Microbiota as Mediator of Cancer Progression and Therapy

• Published in: Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine Vol. 179; pp. 139 - 154
• Main Authors: Pope, Jillian L, Tomkovich, Sarah, Yang, Ye, Jobin, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Carcinogenesis - pathology; Diet; Disease Progression; Dysbiosis - immunology; Dysbiosis - microbiology; Dysbiosis - pathology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Microbiota; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - microbiology; Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasms - therapy; cancer; intestine; immunity; bacteria; metabolites; GI; NOD; DNA-PK; IL; CAC; Tregs; IBD; SCFA; MTX; PRR; PI3K; Apc; CRC; NLR; NLRP1; PDL-1; TLR; MAIT; TIGIT; WT; AOM; GF
• ISSN: 1931-5244; 1878-1810
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2016.07.021

Abstract Complex and intricate circuitries regulate cellular proliferation, survival, and growth, and alterations of this network through genetic and epigenetic events results in aberrant cellular behaviors, often leading to carcinogenesis. Although specific germ-line mutations have been recognized as cancer inducers, the vast majority of neoplastic changes in humans occur through environmental exposure, lifestyle and diet. An emerging concept in cancer biology implicates the microbiota as a powerful environmental factor modulating the carcinogenic process. For example, the intestinal microbiota influences cancer development or therapeutic responses through specific activities (immune responses, metabolites, microbial structures, toxins). The numerous effects of the microbiota on carcinogenesis, ranging from promoting, preventing, or even influencing therapeutic outcomes highlights the complex relationship between the biota and the host. In this review, we discuss the latest findings on this complex microbial interaction with the host and highlight potential mechanisms by which the microbiota mediates such a wide impact on carcinogenesis.