Characteristics and interplay of esophageal microbiota in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background Esophageal microbiota may influence esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) pathobiology. Therefore, we investigated the characteristics and interplay of the esophageal microbiota in ESCC. Methods We performed 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing on paired esophageal tumor and tumor-adjacent samples obtained from 120 primarily ESCC patients. Analyses were performed using quantitative insights into microbial 2 (QIIME2) and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states 2 (PICRUSt2). Species found to be associated with ESCC were validated using quantitative PCR. Results The microbial diversity and composition of ESCC tumor tissues significantly differed from tumor-adjacent tissues; this variation between subjects beta diversity is mainly explained by regions and sampling seasons. A total of 56 taxa were detected with differential abundance between the two groups, such as R. mucilaginosa, P. endodontalis, N. subflava, H. Pylori, A. Parahaemolyticus, and A. Rhizosphaerae. Quantitative PCR confirmed the enrichment of the species P. endodontalis and the reduction of H. Pylori in tumor-adjacent tissues. Compared with tumor tissue, a denser and more complex association network was formed in tumor-adjacent tissue. The above differential taxa, such as H. Pylori, an unclassified species in the genera Sphingomonas, Haemophilus, Phyllobacterium, and Campylobacter, also participated in both co-occurrence networks but played quite different roles. Most of the differentially abundant taxa in tumor-adjacent tissues were negatively associated with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4), and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) signaling pathways, and positively associated with the MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase (MET) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) signaling pathways in tumors. Conclusion Alterations in the microbial co-occurrence network and functional pathways in ESCC tissues may be involved in carcinogenesis and the maintenance of the local microenvironment for ESCC.

Convergent dysbiosis of upper aerodigestive microbiota between patients with esophageal and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

“…35,36 Similar situations are also observed for Gemella and Streptococcus. Notably, we identified an enrichment of Fusobacterium and depletion of Streptococcus in ESCC lavage samples, which is consistent with some previous studies based on tissue specimens 37,38 but different from those inferred from oral rinse or saliva samples, which showed a reduction of Fusobacterium or an enrichment of Streptococcus in the cancer group. 39,40 This discrepancy suggests that local fluids from disease lesions and tumor tissues, rather than distant specimens, are more representative in characterizing host-microbiota interactions.…”

Effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy on microbial diversity in TME and engineered bacterial-mediated tumor therapy

“…In addition, denser and more complex association networks were formed in tumor-adjacent tissues than in tumor-adjacent tissues. In addition, alterations in microbial symbiotic networks and functional pathways in ESCC tissues may be involved in the oncogenic process of the local microenvironment of ESCC ( 16 ).…”

The role of microbiota in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A review of the literature

“…Several case–control studies (Table 1) have revealed a different population of esophageal microbiota in ESCC patients compared to healthy individuals by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) 39 or 16S rRNA sequencing 40–46 . Reduced diversity of esophageal microbiota has previously been observed in a patient with ESCC 43 .…”