The tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
Abstract The tumor microbiome (TM) comprises diverse microbial communities, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Recent advancements in microbial sequencing technologies have improved our understanding of the distribution and functional roles of microbes in solid tumors. The TM is formed through se...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Molecular Cancer |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02403-w |
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| author | Wanting Zhang Yuhang Xiang He Ren Yilin Liu Qi Wang Mengdi Ran Wanting Zhou Lu Tian Xianhui Zheng Cong Qiao Yifei Liu Meisi Yan |
| author_facet | Wanting Zhang Yuhang Xiang He Ren Yilin Liu Qi Wang Mengdi Ran Wanting Zhou Lu Tian Xianhui Zheng Cong Qiao Yifei Liu Meisi Yan |
| author_sort | Wanting Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The tumor microbiome (TM) comprises diverse microbial communities, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Recent advancements in microbial sequencing technologies have improved our understanding of the distribution and functional roles of microbes in solid tumors. The TM is formed through several mechanisms, such as direct invasion of mucosal barriers, diffusion from adjacent normal tissues, metastasis of tumor cells, and dissemination via blood and lymphatic circulation. Microbes play a critical role in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and the TM has a heterogeneous composition in different types of cancer. This heterogeneity affects tumor development, progression, and response to treatment. The TM modulates tumor cell physiology and immune responses via several signaling pathways, such as WNT/β-catenin, NF-κB, toll-like receptors (TLRs), ERK, and stimulator of interferon genes (STING). Extensive studies have characterized the role of TM in tumor progression, revealing the importance of genetic abnormalities, epigenetic changes, metabolic regulation, invasion and metastasis, and chronic inflammatory responses. The role of TM in cancer treatment, especially in immunotherapy, has received increasing attention, demonstrating significant regulatory potential. This review provides an in-depth overview of the development of TM detection technologies, explores its potential origins and heterogeneity, and elucidates the mechanisms by which TM contributes to tumorigenesis or tumor suppression. Furthermore, this review explored how TM can be used in cancer treatment, offering a comprehensive perspective on targeted and personalized approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-72c5d04f32d4484c8f0781767599304b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1476-4598 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Cancer |
| spelling | doaj-art-72c5d04f32d4484c8f0781767599304b2025-08-20T03:42:20ZengBMCMolecular Cancer1476-45982025-07-0124113810.1186/s12943-025-02403-wThe tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potentialWanting Zhang0Yuhang Xiang1He Ren2Yilin Liu3Qi Wang4Mengdi Ran5Wanting Zhou6Lu Tian7Xianhui Zheng8Cong Qiao9Yifei Liu10Meisi Yan11Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityClinical Laboratory, Jiutai People’s HospitalSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shanxi Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Harbin Medical UniversitySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Pathology, Harbin Medical UniversityAbstract The tumor microbiome (TM) comprises diverse microbial communities, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Recent advancements in microbial sequencing technologies have improved our understanding of the distribution and functional roles of microbes in solid tumors. The TM is formed through several mechanisms, such as direct invasion of mucosal barriers, diffusion from adjacent normal tissues, metastasis of tumor cells, and dissemination via blood and lymphatic circulation. Microbes play a critical role in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and the TM has a heterogeneous composition in different types of cancer. This heterogeneity affects tumor development, progression, and response to treatment. The TM modulates tumor cell physiology and immune responses via several signaling pathways, such as WNT/β-catenin, NF-κB, toll-like receptors (TLRs), ERK, and stimulator of interferon genes (STING). Extensive studies have characterized the role of TM in tumor progression, revealing the importance of genetic abnormalities, epigenetic changes, metabolic regulation, invasion and metastasis, and chronic inflammatory responses. The role of TM in cancer treatment, especially in immunotherapy, has received increasing attention, demonstrating significant regulatory potential. This review provides an in-depth overview of the development of TM detection technologies, explores its potential origins and heterogeneity, and elucidates the mechanisms by which TM contributes to tumorigenesis or tumor suppression. Furthermore, this review explored how TM can be used in cancer treatment, offering a comprehensive perspective on targeted and personalized approaches.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02403-wTumor microbiomeCancer progressionMicrobial metabolitesTherapeutic interventionsImmune regulation |
| spellingShingle | Wanting Zhang Yuhang Xiang He Ren Yilin Liu Qi Wang Mengdi Ran Wanting Zhou Lu Tian Xianhui Zheng Cong Qiao Yifei Liu Meisi Yan The tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential Molecular Cancer Tumor microbiome Cancer progression Microbial metabolites Therapeutic interventions Immune regulation |
| title | The tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential |
| title_full | The tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential |
| title_fullStr | The tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | The tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential |
| title_short | The tumor microbiome in cancer progression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential |
| title_sort | tumor microbiome in cancer progression mechanisms and therapeutic potential |
| topic | Tumor microbiome Cancer progression Microbial metabolites Therapeutic interventions Immune regulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02403-w |
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