Diet, Microbes, and Cancer Across the Tree of Life: a Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose of Review Cancers are a leading cause of death in humans and for many other species. Diet has often been associated with cancers, and the microbiome is an essential mediator between diet and cancers. Here, we review the work on cancer and the microbiome across species to search for broad patterns of susceptibility associated with different microbial species. Recent Findings Some microbes, such as Helicobacter bacteria, papillomaviruses, and the carnivore-associated Fusobacteria, consistently induce tumorigenesis in humans and other species. Other microbes, such as the milk-associated Lactobacillus, consistently inhibit tumorigenesis in humans and other species. Summary We systematically reviewed over a thousand published articles and identified links between diet, microbes, and cancers in several species of mammals, birds, and flies. Future work should examine a larger variety of host species to discover new model organisms for human preclinical trials, to better understand the observed variance in cancer prevalence across species, and to discover which microbes and diets are associated with cancers across species. Ultimately, this could help identify microbial and dietary interventions to diagnose, prevent, and treat cancers in humans as well as other animals.

The ecology of cancer prevalence across species: Cancer prevalence is highest in desert species and high trophic levels

“…1; Table 2). The association between carnivores and cancer prevalence may also depend on the microbiome 124 , though little is currently known about the microbiome of most of the species in this dataset.…”

“…(which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is depend on the microbiome124 , though little is currently known about the microbiome of most of the species in this dataset.…”

Life history and cancer in birds: clutch size predicts cancer

“…Tumors were also detected in 25 out of 1669 free-living birds in the area of Chernobyl and were positively correlated with exposure to radiation 89 . To assess whether infections, radiation, or even nutritional factors, such as and carnivorous diets 90 , are associated with the malignancies and neoplasms of birds in our dataset, a systematic analysis of the carcinogens that these birds may be exposed to in managed settings would be necessary. This would also inform us about potential mechanisms that protect birds from radiation-induced DNA damage 91 , as well as associations between unpredictable environments and fast life history strategies (e.g., production of more offspring) 92 that explain cancer susceptibility across species.…”

Inulin prebiotic reinforces host cancer immunosurveillance via γδ T cell activation

“…It limits host cell oxidation and metabolism as well as genetic instability and chronic inflammation. It also affects gut microbiota composition and functions, and subsequently, host immune functions (3). Indeed, the host immune tonus is a key parameter in cancer prevention through immunosurveillance, which relies on the ability of different immune cell subsets to patrol, recognize, and eliminate transformed cells (4).…”

“…It limits host cell oxidation and metabolism, as well as genetic instability and chronic inflammation. It acts also on gut microbiota composition and functions, and subsequently on host immune functions (3).…”