Chlamydia trachomatis and Anti-MUC1 Serology and Subsequent Risk of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Northern Sweden

Association of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection With Breast Cancer Risk and the Modification Effect of IL-12

BACKGROUND

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) infection has been implicated in various cancers, yet its association with breast cancer remains unexplored. This infection triggers a cascade of immune responses primarily regulated by Interleukins-12 (IL-12). Thus, the objective of this case-control study was to investigate the link between C. trachomatis infection and breast cancer risk, as well as the modification effect of IL-12.

METHODS

We assessed IgG levels against C. trachomatis in serum of 1,121 women with breast cancer (861 with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and 260 with estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) tumors) and 400 controls in Guangzhou, China. Logistic regression models were applied to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for breast cancer risk in association with C. trachomatis infection. The interaction between C. trachomatis infection and IL-12 on breast cancer risk was estimated by the product terms in the logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Seropositivity of C. trachomatis IgG showed a slight association with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.20; 95% CI: 0.86∼1.78). This association was more pronounced among women with a higher (OR = 5.82; 95% CI: 1.31∼25.94) than a lower (OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.41∼1.30) level of IL-12, with a statistically significant interaction observed (Pinteraction = 0.013). In addition, C. trachomatis IgG seropositivity was related to an increased risk of breast cancer among PR+ patients (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.04∼2.23).

CONCLUSIONS

C. trachomatis infection may contribute to the development of hormone-responsive breast cancer in women with high levels of IL-12. Further studies are needed to uncover the underlying mechanisms.

Exploring the Relationship between Ovarian Cancer and Genital Microbiota: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ovarian cancer (OC) remains a significant health challenge globally, with high mortality rates despite advancements in treatment. Emerging research suggests a potential link between OC development and genital dysbiosis, implicating alterations in the microbiome composition as a contributing factor. To investigate this correlation, a meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines, involving eight studies encompassing 3504 patients. Studies investigating the role of upper and inferior genital tract dysbiosis were included, with particular reference to HPV infection and/or history of pelvic inflammatory disease. The analysis revealed no significant difference in genital dysbiosis prevalence between OC patients and healthy controls. Although previous literature suggests associations between dysbiosis and gynecologic cancers, such as cervical and endometrial cancers, the findings regarding OC are inconclusive. Methodological variations and environmental factors may contribute to these discrepancies, underscoring the need for standardized methodologies and larger-scale studies. Despite the limitations, understanding the microbiome's role in OC development holds promise for informing preventive and therapeutic strategies. A holistic approach to patient care, incorporating microbiome monitoring and personalized interventions, may offer insights into mitigating OC risk and improving treatment outcomes. Further research with robust methodologies is warranted to elucidate the complex interplay between dysbiosis and OC, potentially paving the way for novel preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Results From the Finnish Maternity Cohort

BACKGROUND

Sexually transmitted infections, specifically Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), may be associated with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk. The association between CT and EOC subtypes is unclear. Our aim was to investigate whether history of CT and other infections (Mycoplasma genitalium [MG], herpes simplex virus type 2 [HSV-2], and human papillomavirus [HPV]) are associated with EOC risk by histotype.

METHODS

We measured antibodies (Abs) to CT, MG, HSV-2, and HPV-16/18 in serum samples in a nested case-control study in the Finnish Maternity Cohort (N = 484 cases 1:1 matched to controls). Logistic regression was used to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in seropositive versus seronegative individuals in all cases, as well as serous (n = 249), clear cell and endometrioid (n = 91), and mucinous (n = 144) EOC.

RESULTS

CT seropositivity was not associated with EOC risk (eg, CT pGP3-Ab: RR, 0.92 [95% CI, .72-1.19]), regardless of disease subtype. We observed a positive association between MG seropositivity and mucinous EOC (RR, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.09-2.54]; P for heterogeneity by histotype ≤ .001), but not other subtypes. No associations were observed with seropositivity to multiple STIs.

CONCLUSIONS

CT infection was not associated with EOC risk, with associations observed only for MG and mucinous EOC. Mechanisms linking MG to mucinous EOC remain to be elucidated.

Chlamydia trachomatis as a Current Health Problem: Challenges and Opportunities

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs) worldwide. It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), which is an obligate intracellular bacterium. In some cases, it can occur in coinfection with other parasites, increasing the pathologic potential of the infection. The treatment is based on antibiotic prescription; notwithstanding, the infection is mostly asymptomatic, which increases the risk of transmission. Therefore, some countries have implemented Chlamydia Screening Programs in order to detect undiagnosed infections. However, in Portugal, there is no CT screening plan within the National Health Service. There is no awareness in the general healthcare about the true magnitude of this issue because most of the methods used are not Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology-based and, therefore, lack sensitivity, resulting in underreporting infection cases. CT infections are also associated with possible long-term severe injuries. In detail, persistent infection triggers an inflammatory milieu and can be related to severe sequels, such as infertility. This infection could also trigger gynecologic tumors in women, evidencing the urgent need for cost-effective screening programs worldwide in order to detect and treat these individuals adequately. In this review, we have focused on the success of an implemented screening program that has been reported in the literature, the efforts made concerning the vaccine discovery, and what is known regarding CT infection. This review supports the need for further fundamental studies in this area in order to eradicate this infection and we also suggest the implementation of a Chlamydia Screening Program in Portugal.

Is There a Hidden Burden of Disease as a Result of Epigenetic Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Following Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Tract Infection?

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide, has been widely researched for its involvement in many disease pathologies in the reproductive tract, including pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal factor infertility. Recent findings, through the efforts to understand the pathogenesis of CT, suggest that CT can induce the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through epigenetic changes in the epithelium of the female reproductive tract. This literature review aims to analyze the evidence for CT's ability to promote EMT and to pinpoint the areas that merit further investigation.

Association of Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections with susceptibility to ovarian cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers with a high mortality rate in women. Published studies indicate that inflammation, DNA damage, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are the most important risk factors for ovarian cancer and this could be induced and exacerbated by infectious agents such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium. The aim of this study was to determine the association between Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections and the risk of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

We carried out a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar without limitation on publication date. All relevant studies which investigatived probable potential connection between Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infection and development of ovarian cancer were included.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies comprising a total of 8207 patients were evaluated in the study and this showed that the frequency of infection with Chlamydia and Mycoplasma among ovarian cancer patients was 32.6 % and 23 %, respectively. The results suggested that Chlamydia trachomatis infection increased the overall risk for ovarian cancer by 1.344 fold (OR: 1.344; 95 %CI: 1.19-1.50). Moreover, infection with Mycoplasma infections showed a week but not significant increased risk of ovarian cancer (OR: 1.12; 95 %CI: 0.86-1.44). However, the test for heterogeneity was significant among these studies.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed the clinical relevance of Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infection and development of the ovarian cancer risk, although the significance was marginal and study heterogeneity was significant. This highlights the need for further studies in this area.

Nanotechnology in ovarian cancer: Diagnosis and treatment

To overcome the drawbacks of conventional delivery, this review spotlights a number of nanoscale drug delivery systems, including nanoparticles, liposomes, nano micelles, branched dendrimers, nanocapsules, and nanostructured lipid formulations for the targeted therapy of ovarian cancer. These nanoformulations offer numerous advantages to promote therapeutic drug delivery such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, good biodegradability, increased therapeutic impact than free drugs, and non-inflammatory effects. Importantly, the development of specific ligands functionalized nanoformulations enable preferential targeting of ovarian tumors and eventually amplify the therapeutic potential compared to nonfunctionalized counterparts. Ovarian cancer is typically identified by biomarker assessment such as CA125, HE4, Mucin 1, and prostatic. There is, nevertheless, a tremendous demand for less costly, faster, and compact medical tools, both for timely detection and ovarian cancer control. This paper explored multiple types of tumor marker-based on nanomaterial biosensors. Initially, we mention different forms of ovarian cancer biomarkers involving CA125, human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), mucin 1 (MUC1), and prostate. It is accompanied by a brief description of new nanotechnology methods for diagnosis. Nanobiosensors for evaluating ovarian cancer biomarkers can be categorized based on electrochemical, optical, paper-based, giant magnetoresistive, and lab-on-a-chip devices.