Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer Progression
Deciphering the spatiotemporal distribution of bacteria during breast cancer progression may provide critical insights for developing bacterial-based therapeutic strategies. Using a murine breast cancer model, we longitudinally profiled the microbiota in breast tumor tissue, mammary gland, spleen, a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1632 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849408961904640000 |
|---|---|
| author | Qi Xu Aikun Fu Nan Wang Zhizhen Zhang |
| author_facet | Qi Xu Aikun Fu Nan Wang Zhizhen Zhang |
| author_sort | Qi Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Deciphering the spatiotemporal distribution of bacteria during breast cancer progression may provide critical insights for developing bacterial-based therapeutic strategies. Using a murine breast cancer model, we longitudinally profiled the microbiota in breast tumor tissue, mammary gland, spleen, and cecal contents at 3-, 5-, and 7- weeks post-tumor implantation through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Breast tumor progression was associated with lung metastasis and splenomegaly, accompanied by distinct tissue-specific microbial dynamics. While alpha diversity remained stable in tumors, mammary tissue, and cecal contents, it significantly increased in the spleen (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Longitudinal analysis revealed a progressive rise in Firmicutes and a decline in Proteobacteria abundance within tumors, mammary tissue, and cecum, whereas the spleen microbiota displayed unique phylum-level compositional shifts. Tissue- and time-dependent microbial signatures were identified at phylum, genus, and species levels during breast tumor progression. Strikingly, the spleen microbiota integrated nearly all genera enriched in other sites, suggesting its potential role as a microbial reservoir. Gut-associated genera (<i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Desulfovibrio</i>, <i>Helicobacter</i>) colonized both cecal contents and the spleen, with <i>Lactobacillus</i> consistently detected across all tissues, suggesting microbial translocation. The spleen exhibited uniquely elevated diversity and compositional shifts, potentially driving splenomegaly. These results delineated the trajectory of microbiota translocation and colonization, and demonstrated tissue-specific microbial redistribution during breast tumorigenesis, offering valuable implications for advancing microbiome-targeted cancer therapies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bbfdd1b13df74b9ba6ecf1127168087a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-bbfdd1b13df74b9ba6ecf1127168087a2025-08-20T03:35:38ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-07-01137163210.3390/microorganisms13071632Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer ProgressionQi Xu0Aikun Fu1Nan Wang2Zhizhen Zhang3Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, ChinaSichuan Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging, Dazhou 635000, ChinaOcean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, ChinaOcean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, ChinaDeciphering the spatiotemporal distribution of bacteria during breast cancer progression may provide critical insights for developing bacterial-based therapeutic strategies. Using a murine breast cancer model, we longitudinally profiled the microbiota in breast tumor tissue, mammary gland, spleen, and cecal contents at 3-, 5-, and 7- weeks post-tumor implantation through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Breast tumor progression was associated with lung metastasis and splenomegaly, accompanied by distinct tissue-specific microbial dynamics. While alpha diversity remained stable in tumors, mammary tissue, and cecal contents, it significantly increased in the spleen (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Longitudinal analysis revealed a progressive rise in Firmicutes and a decline in Proteobacteria abundance within tumors, mammary tissue, and cecum, whereas the spleen microbiota displayed unique phylum-level compositional shifts. Tissue- and time-dependent microbial signatures were identified at phylum, genus, and species levels during breast tumor progression. Strikingly, the spleen microbiota integrated nearly all genera enriched in other sites, suggesting its potential role as a microbial reservoir. Gut-associated genera (<i>Lactobacillus</i>, <i>Desulfovibrio</i>, <i>Helicobacter</i>) colonized both cecal contents and the spleen, with <i>Lactobacillus</i> consistently detected across all tissues, suggesting microbial translocation. The spleen exhibited uniquely elevated diversity and compositional shifts, potentially driving splenomegaly. These results delineated the trajectory of microbiota translocation and colonization, and demonstrated tissue-specific microbial redistribution during breast tumorigenesis, offering valuable implications for advancing microbiome-targeted cancer therapies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1632breast tumorbacteriasplenomegalygut microbiotaspatiotemporal trajectory progression |
| spellingShingle | Qi Xu Aikun Fu Nan Wang Zhizhen Zhang Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer Progression Microorganisms breast tumor bacteria splenomegaly gut microbiota spatiotemporal trajectory progression |
| title | Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer Progression |
| title_full | Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer Progression |
| title_fullStr | Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer Progression |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer Progression |
| title_short | Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Tumor–Host Microbiota in Breast Cancer Progression |
| title_sort | temporal and spatial dynamics of tumor host microbiota in breast cancer progression |
| topic | breast tumor bacteria splenomegaly gut microbiota spatiotemporal trajectory progression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1632 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qixu temporalandspatialdynamicsoftumorhostmicrobiotainbreastcancerprogression AT aikunfu temporalandspatialdynamicsoftumorhostmicrobiotainbreastcancerprogression AT nanwang temporalandspatialdynamicsoftumorhostmicrobiotainbreastcancerprogression AT zhizhenzhang temporalandspatialdynamicsoftumorhostmicrobiotainbreastcancerprogression |