The human microbiome links to prostate cancer risk and treatment (Review)

Abstract

Prostate cancer (Pca) is the second most common cancer type worldwide. Microorganisms colonized in different body parts may affect the development/progression and treatment of Pca through direct or indirect interactions. The composition of microorganisms in different colonization sites and their effects on Pca may differ. In recent years, several studies have focused on the differences in the microbiota of patients with Pca, and dysbiosis may affect the inflammatory status, hormone levels and microbial metabolites leading to Pca progression. However, little is known about the interaction between Pca treatment and microorganisms; for example, how androgen deprivation therapy and androgen receptor axis-targeting therapeutics for Pca affect microbiota composition and metabolism, and how the microbiota affects treatment response in patients with Pca remain to be understood. The present review explored the current studies on the relevance of microbiota to Pca progression and treatment to provide direction for future microbiome-Pca research. Due to the complexity of the potential interconnections between Pca and the microbiota, further investigation is critical. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Microbiota and Pca 3. Conclusions and future directions

Metabolites: a converging node of host and microbe to explain meta-organism

“…In this context, there is growing traction about how gut microbiota communicate with peripheral organs. For instance, the dysbiosis of gut commensal has been linked to pulmonary health and asthma ( Hufnagl et al, 2020 ), liver immunology ( Trebicka et al, 2021 ), kidney failure ( Zaky et al, 2021 ), and multiple cancer pathogenesis ( Alexander and Turnbaugh, 2020 ; Sánchez-Alcoholado et al, 2020 ; Zheng et al, 2020 ; Kandalai et al, 2023 ; Xia et al, 2023 ). Indeed, an in vivo model suggested how microbial metabolites are associated with circadian rhythm and its disruption ( Tahara et al, 2018 ).…”

Microbiome and Prostate Cancer: Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Opportunities

“…In addition, dysbiosis may affect the inflammatory status and hormone levels of the body and result in reduced microbial metabolite levels, leading to prostate cancer progression. This provides a basis for establishing the gut microbiome as a biomarker for early detection and assessment of prostate cancer risk [ 61 ]. Furthermore, the role of the gut microbiome in prostate cancer endocrine resistance, which occurs through the generation of androgenic steroids, also supports its potential diagnostic capability.…”