Review of the gut microbiome and esophageal cancer: Pathogenesis and potential clinical implications

Abstract

Esophageal cancer ranks among the most aggressive malignant diseases. The limited improvements in treatment outcomes provided by conventional therapies have prompted us to seek innovative strategies for treating this cancer. More than 100 trillion microorganisms inhabit the human intestinal tract and play a crucial role in health and disease conditions, including cancer. The human intestinal microbiome is thought to influence tumor development and progression in the gastrointestinal tract by various mechanisms. For example, Fusobacterium nucleatum, which primarily inhabits the oral cavity and causes periodontal disease, might contribute to aggressive tumor behavior through activation of chemokines such as CCL20 in esophageal cancer tissue. Composition of the intestinal microbiota is influenced by diet, lifestyle, antibiotics, and pro‐ and prebiotics. Therefore, by better understanding how the bacterial microbiota contributes to esophageal carcinogenesis, we might develop novel cancer prevention and treatment strategies through targeting the gastrointestinal microflora. This review discusses the current knowledge, available data and information on the relationship of microbiota with esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Resistance, and Microbiome on the Diagnosis of Barrett’s Esophagus

“…Microbiome: Microbiome is a rapidly advancing research topic in BE and EAC [46][47][48]. Some researchers believe that microbiome is a key factor in the pathological process of BE, while others hold the opposite opinion [48,49].…”

Microbiota Alterations in Gastrointestinal Cancers

“…The growing prevalence of obesity in nearly all regions of the world, as well as alcohol overuse and smoking, are known key agents that increase the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers, as well as gut hormones and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Additionally, experimental evidence indicates that the human intestinal microbiota can influence tumour development and progression in the gastrointestinal tract by damaging DNA, activating oncogenic signaling pathways, initiating the production of tumour-promoting metabolites, and suppressing the antitumor immune response [2,3].…”

Combined maternal and post‐weaning high fat diet inhibits male offspring's prostate cancer tumorigenesis in transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate model

“…Recent years have witnessed growing evidence for the implications of our gut microbiota in tumorigenesis. The cancer‐promoting effects of microbiota have been demonstrated to associate with a number of cancers, with examples including colorectal, liver, and esophageal cancers …”

“…The cancer-promoting effects of microbiota have been demonstrated to associate with a number of cancers, with examples including colorectal, liver, and esophageal cancers. [4][5][6] Gut microbiota also plays a role in PCa. David et al compared the gut microbiota between patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and localized PCa, and revealed a higher relative abundance of Bacteriodes massiliensi and lower abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectalie in PCa patients.…”