Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods

The role of the microbiome in cancer metastasis has emerged as a critical area of research, with growing evidence suggesting that microbial composition and interactions within the tumour microenvironment may significantly influence metastatic progression. This review explores the role of the microbi...

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Main Authors: Marianne Meyers, Charlotte B. A. Stoffels, Gilles Frache, Elisabeth Letellier, Maureen Feucherolles
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1559870/full
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author Marianne Meyers
Charlotte B. A. Stoffels
Gilles Frache
Elisabeth Letellier
Maureen Feucherolles
author_facet Marianne Meyers
Charlotte B. A. Stoffels
Gilles Frache
Elisabeth Letellier
Maureen Feucherolles
author_sort Marianne Meyers
collection DOAJ
description The role of the microbiome in cancer metastasis has emerged as a critical area of research, with growing evidence suggesting that microbial composition and interactions within the tumour microenvironment may significantly influence metastatic progression. This review explores the role of the microbiome in cancer metastasis, as well as potential key bacteria and their mechanisms through which they could impact tumour dissemination, seeding and growth. Biological models used to study metastasis are discussed to provide context for the further investigation of these interactions. In order to answer unresolved questions regarding the microbiome’s involvement in metastatic dissemination, recent advancements in spatial biology techniques are examined, including spatial genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, which enable the spatial mapping of microbial interactions within the tumour microenvironment. Additionally, multimodal-omics imaging approaches are highlighted for their potential to integrate multiple molecular layers, offering comprehensive insights into the microbiome’s role in cancer metastasis. The review also addresses the challenges and limitations of these techniques, underscoring the complexity of studying microbiome-tumour interactions and offering directions for future research to better explore and target the microbiological landscape in metastatic cancer.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
spelling doaj-art-7a05822d48e3455ba5c41a1bd1b44bfe2025-08-20T02:01:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-06-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15598701559870Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methodsMarianne Meyers0Charlotte B. A. Stoffels1Gilles Frache2Elisabeth Letellier3Maureen Feucherolles4Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, LuxembourgDepartment of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, LuxembourgThe role of the microbiome in cancer metastasis has emerged as a critical area of research, with growing evidence suggesting that microbial composition and interactions within the tumour microenvironment may significantly influence metastatic progression. This review explores the role of the microbiome in cancer metastasis, as well as potential key bacteria and their mechanisms through which they could impact tumour dissemination, seeding and growth. Biological models used to study metastasis are discussed to provide context for the further investigation of these interactions. In order to answer unresolved questions regarding the microbiome’s involvement in metastatic dissemination, recent advancements in spatial biology techniques are examined, including spatial genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, which enable the spatial mapping of microbial interactions within the tumour microenvironment. Additionally, multimodal-omics imaging approaches are highlighted for their potential to integrate multiple molecular layers, offering comprehensive insights into the microbiome’s role in cancer metastasis. The review also addresses the challenges and limitations of these techniques, underscoring the complexity of studying microbiome-tumour interactions and offering directions for future research to better explore and target the microbiological landscape in metastatic cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1559870/fullcancer metastasismicrobiomespatial omicshost-microbiome interactionstumour microenvironment
spellingShingle Marianne Meyers
Charlotte B. A. Stoffels
Gilles Frache
Elisabeth Letellier
Maureen Feucherolles
Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
cancer metastasis
microbiome
spatial omics
host-microbiome interactions
tumour microenvironment
title Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods
title_full Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods
title_fullStr Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods
title_full_unstemmed Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods
title_short Microbiome in cancer metastasis: biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods
title_sort microbiome in cancer metastasis biological insights and emerging spatial omics methods
topic cancer metastasis
microbiome
spatial omics
host-microbiome interactions
tumour microenvironment
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1559870/full
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AT charlottebastoffels microbiomeincancermetastasisbiologicalinsightsandemergingspatialomicsmethods
AT gillesfrache microbiomeincancermetastasisbiologicalinsightsandemergingspatialomicsmethods
AT elisabethletellier microbiomeincancermetastasisbiologicalinsightsandemergingspatialomicsmethods
AT maureenfeucherolles microbiomeincancermetastasisbiologicalinsightsandemergingspatialomicsmethods