The Microbiome and Cancer: A Dangerous Liaison

Abstract

Variations in the human gut microbiome might reflect an individual's lifestyle and influence their blood levels of disease biomarkers. Understanding the connections between gut microbes and host phenotypes is crucial for determining health and disease. The gastrointestinal tract has the largest reservoir of microbes, both in the lumen, where they aid primary and secondary metabolism, and on the mucosal surfaces, where they communicate with host immune cells. Here, we present a review of the interactions between the human microbiota and the host, to provide an overview of the role of the gut microbiome in the development and progression of major human diseases, with specific focus on cancer.