Candida albicansand cancer: Can this yeast induce cancer development or progression?

Abstract

There is currently increasing concern about the relation between microbial infections and cancer. More and more studies support the view that there is an association, above all, when the causal agents are bacteria or viruses. This review adds to this, summarizing evidence that the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans increases the risk of carcinogenesis and metastasis. Until recent years, Candida spp. had fundamentally been linked to cancerous processes as it is an opportunist pathogen that takes advantage of the immunosuppressed state of patients particularly due to chemotherapy. In contrast, the most recent findings demonstrate that C. albicans is capable of promoting cancer by several mechanisms, as described in the review: production of carcinogenic byproducts, triggering of inflammation, induction of Th17 response and molecular mimicry. We underline the need not only to control this type of infection during cancer treatment, especially given the major role of this yeast species in nosocomial infections, but also to find new therapeutic approaches to avoid the pro-tumor effect of this fungal species.

Th17 Inflammation Model of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Immunodeficient Mice

“…Although Th17 cells are shown to be pathological mediators in several oral diseases, whether chronic activation of Th17 cells is pathogenic in OPC remain to be investigated. With recent findings implying the role of C. albicans in inflammation and cancer, Th17 immunopathology in the oral cavity is an active field of investigation 31 . Thus the model that is described here can be used to more carefully study specific roles of Th17 cells and how they interact with innate immune cells, giving detailed insights in to oral immunological diseases and oral cancer.…”

Evaluation of Micronuclei, Nuclear Anomalies and the Nuclear/Cytoplasmic Ratio of Exfoliated Cervical Epithelial Cells in Genital Candidiasis

“…This ratio is important for carcinogenesis. Ramirez-Garcia et al [28] indicated that the opportunistic fungus C. albicans increases the risk of carcinogenesis and metastasis. C. albicans is capable of promoting cancer by several mechanisms: the production of carcinogenic byproducts, triggering of inflammation, induction of Th17 responses and molecular mimicry.…”

Integrity of IKK/NF‐κB Shields Thymic Stroma That Suppresses Susceptibility to Autoimmunity, Fungal Infection, and Carcinogenesis

“…On the other hand, epidemiological studies suggest that fungal infection is associated with certain types of human cancers. [115][116][117] Candida albicans is frequently found in the lesion sets of diseases or cancers in humans, [59,118] but many other fungi, including Cladosporium cladosporioides and Candida tropicalis, were also reported in human solid cancers. As discussed above, IKK/NF-kB-regulated immunity plays a decisive role in defending against infections.…”