Comprehensive analysis of microbiota signature across 32 cancer types

Abstract

Microbial communities significantly inhabit the human body. Evidence shows the interaction between the human microbiome and host cells plays a central role in multiple physiological processes and organ microenvironments. However, the majority of related studies focus on gut microbiota or specific tissues/organs, and the component signature of intratumor microbiota across various cancer types remains unclear. Here, we systematically analyzed the correlation between intratumor microbial signature with survival outcomes, genomic features, and immune profiles across 32 cancer types based on the public databases of Bacteria in Cancer (BIC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Results showed the relative abundance of microbial taxa in tumors compared to normal tissues was observed as particularly noticeable. Survival analysis found that specific candidate microbial taxa were correlated with prognosis across various cancers. Then, a microbial-based scoring system (MS), which was composed of 64 candidate prognostic microbes, was established. Further analyses showed significant differences in survival status, genomic function, and immune profiles among the distinct MS subgroups. Taken together, this study reveals the diversity and complexity of microbiomes in tumors. Classifying cancer into different subtypes based on intratumor microbial signatures might reasonably reflect genomic characteristics, immune features, and survival status.

Gut Microbiota Signatures with Potential Clinical Usefulness in Colorectal and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers

“…This panel performed with an AUC of 0.747, 73.7% of sensibility, and 75% of specificity, when applied to our population. ROC curves are displayed in Figure 6 , where Figure 6 a,b correspond to the performance in our study population of our proposed CRC and NSCLC panels, respectively, Figure 6 c,d to the performance of the Thomas et al published signature [ 15 ], and Figure 6 e,f to the performance of the Yang et al published signature [ 16 ].…”

“…The relevance of the published bacteria panels for being as less applicable is uncertain for us, as their data come from a larger number of patients. It should be noted that the signature from Yang et al [ 16 ] was developed for cancer prognosis, not with diagnostic purposes. However, both signatures previously published [ 15 , 16 ] showed no discriminatory performance.…”

“…It should be noted that the signature from Yang et al [ 16 ] was developed for cancer prognosis, not with diagnostic purposes. However, both signatures previously published [ 15 , 16 ] showed no discriminatory performance. These results may reflect some lack of external validation.…”

“…Diagnostic parameters (AUC of ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity) were calculated and compared between the identified fecal microbiota signatures and two large cancer microbiome signatures [ 15 , 16 ]. Statistical comparisons of ROC curves were conducted using the DeLong et al method [ 24 ], with a significance threshold set at p value < 0.05.…”

“…Recently, gut microbiome signatures have been developed across several cancer types [ 15 , 16 ]. However, whether there is a specific microbiome signature for each type of cancer, CRC or NSCLC, still remains under investigation.…”