Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy
Abstract Over the past few years, the tumor microbiome is increasingly recognized for its multifaceted involvement in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. With the application of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) sequencing, the intratumoral microbiome, also referred to as tumor-i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Molecular Biomedicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43556-025-00248-9 |
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| author | Shengxin Zhang Jing Huang Zedong Jiang Huan Tong Xuelei Ma Yang Liu |
| author_facet | Shengxin Zhang Jing Huang Zedong Jiang Huan Tong Xuelei Ma Yang Liu |
| author_sort | Shengxin Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Over the past few years, the tumor microbiome is increasingly recognized for its multifaceted involvement in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. With the application of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) sequencing, the intratumoral microbiome, also referred to as tumor-intrinsic or tumor-resident microbiome, has also been found to play a significant role in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding their complex functions is critical for identifying new therapeutic avenues and improving treatment outcomes. This review first summarizes the origins and composition of these microbial communities, emphasizing their adapted diversity across a diverse range of tumor types and stages. Moreover, we outline the general mechanisms by which specific microbes induce tumor initiation, including the activation of carcinogenic pathways, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, epigenetic modifications, and chronic inflammation. We further propose the tumor microbiome may evade immunity and promote angiogenesis to support tumor progression, while uncovering specific microbial influences on each step of the metastatic cascade, such as invasion, circulation, and seeding in secondary sites. Additionally, tumor microbiome is closely associated with drug resistance and influences therapeutic efficacy by modulating immune responses, drug metabolism, and apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, we explore innovative microbe-based therapeutic strategies, such as engineered bacteria, oncolytic virotherapy, and other modalities aimed at enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy, paving the way for microbiome-centered cancer treatment frameworks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16761cb8e12d4fc0a219bce692c5f044 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-8651 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Biomedicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-16761cb8e12d4fc0a219bce692c5f0442025-02-09T12:04:38ZengSpringerMolecular Biomedicine2662-86512025-02-016114310.1186/s43556-025-00248-9Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapyShengxin Zhang0Jing Huang1Zedong Jiang2Huan Tong3Xuelei Ma4Yang Liu5Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Medical Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDay Surgery Center, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Over the past few years, the tumor microbiome is increasingly recognized for its multifaceted involvement in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. With the application of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) sequencing, the intratumoral microbiome, also referred to as tumor-intrinsic or tumor-resident microbiome, has also been found to play a significant role in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding their complex functions is critical for identifying new therapeutic avenues and improving treatment outcomes. This review first summarizes the origins and composition of these microbial communities, emphasizing their adapted diversity across a diverse range of tumor types and stages. Moreover, we outline the general mechanisms by which specific microbes induce tumor initiation, including the activation of carcinogenic pathways, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, epigenetic modifications, and chronic inflammation. We further propose the tumor microbiome may evade immunity and promote angiogenesis to support tumor progression, while uncovering specific microbial influences on each step of the metastatic cascade, such as invasion, circulation, and seeding in secondary sites. Additionally, tumor microbiome is closely associated with drug resistance and influences therapeutic efficacy by modulating immune responses, drug metabolism, and apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, we explore innovative microbe-based therapeutic strategies, such as engineered bacteria, oncolytic virotherapy, and other modalities aimed at enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy, paving the way for microbiome-centered cancer treatment frameworks.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43556-025-00248-9Tumor microbiomeTumor microenvironmentTumor initiation and progressionImmune modulationMicrobe-based therapeutic strategies |
| spellingShingle | Shengxin Zhang Jing Huang Zedong Jiang Huan Tong Xuelei Ma Yang Liu Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy Molecular Biomedicine Tumor microbiome Tumor microenvironment Tumor initiation and progression Immune modulation Microbe-based therapeutic strategies |
| title | Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy |
| title_full | Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy |
| title_fullStr | Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy |
| title_short | Tumor microbiome: roles in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy |
| title_sort | tumor microbiome roles in tumor initiation progression and therapy |
| topic | Tumor microbiome Tumor microenvironment Tumor initiation and progression Immune modulation Microbe-based therapeutic strategies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43556-025-00248-9 |
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