Gut Microbiota and Cancer of the Host: Colliding Interests

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Gyorgy Baffy

Abstract

Cancer develops in multicellular organisms from cells that ignore the rules of cooperation and escape the mechanisms of anti-cancer surveillance. Tumorigenesis is jointly encountered by the host and microbiota, a vast collection of microorganisms that live on the external and internal epithelial surfaces of the body. The largest community of human microbiota resides in the gastrointestinal tract where commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms interact with the intestinal barrier and gut mucosal lymphoid tissue, creating a tumor microenvironment in which cancer cells thrive or perish. Aberrant composition and function of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) has been associated with tumorigenesis by inducing inflammation, promoting cell growth and proliferation, weakening immunosurveillance, and altering food and drug metabolism or other biochemical functions of the host. However, recent research has also identified several mechanisms through which gut microbiota support the host in the fight against cancer. These mechanisms include the use of antigenic mimicry, biotransformation of chemotherapeutic agents, and other mechanisms to boost anti-cancer immune responses and improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Further rese...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 1, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Konrad BilskiJerzy Ostrowski
Jun 25, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Gaia GiannoneGiorgio Valabrega
May 6, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Mónica V CunhaLuís M Rosalino
Feb 5, 2021·Gut Microbes·Hassan Zafar, Milton H Saier
Oct 30, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Boris MravecLuba Hunakova
Mar 17, 2021·The Journal of Pathology·Paloma González-Sánchez, Gina M DeNicola
Apr 4, 2021·Medicina·Rajbardhan MishraLuca Vannucci

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