Characterization of fecal microbiota in cervical cancer patients associated with tumor stage and prognosis

Microbiome and Abdominopelvic Radiotherapy Related Chronic Enteritis: A Microbiome-based Mechanistic Role of Probiotics and Antibiotics

Chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain after radiotherapy continue to be a problem in cancer survivors. Gut microbiomes are essential for preventing intestinal inflammation, maintaining intestinal integrity, maintaining enterohepatic circulation, regulating bile acid metabolism, and absorption of nutrients, including fat-soluble vitamins. Gut microbiome dysbiosis is expected to cause inflammation, bile acid malabsorption, malnutrition, and associated symptoms. Postradiotherapy, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phylum are significantly decreased while Fusobacteria and other unclassified bacteria are increased. Available evidence suggests harmful bacteria Veillonella, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Ruminococcus are sensitive to Metronidazole or Ciprofloxacin. Beneficial bacteria lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are relatively resistant to metronidazole. We hypothesize and provide an evidence-based review that short-course targeted antibiotics followed by specific probiotics may lead to alleviation of radiation enteritis.

Gut microbiota and female health

The gut microbiota is recognized as an endocrine organ with the capacity to influence distant organs and associated biological pathways. Recent advancements underscore the critical role of gut microbial homeostasis in female health; with dysbiosis potentially leading to diseases among women such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer etc. Despite this, there has been limited discussion on the underlying mechanisms. This editorial explores the three potential mechanisms through which gut microbiota dysbiosis may impact the development of diseases among women, namely, the immune system, the gut microbiota-estrogen axis, and the metabolite pathway. We focused on approaches for treating diseases in women by addressing gut microbiota imbalances through probiotics, prebiotics supplementation, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Future studies should focus on determining the molecular mechanisms underlying associations between dysbiosis of gut microbiota and female diseases to realize precision medicine, with FMT emerging as a promising intervention.

The causal correlation between gut microbiota abundance and pathogenesis of cervical cancer: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study

Background

Observational studies and animal experiments suggested potential relevance between gut microbiota (GM) and cervical cancer (CC), but the relevance of this association remains to be clarified.

Methods

We performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore whether there was a causal correlation between GM and CC, and the direction of causality.

Results

In primary outcomes, we found that a higher abundance of class Clostridia, family Family XI, genus Alloprevotella, genus Ruminiclostridium 9, and order Clostridiales predicted higher risk of CC, and a higher abundance of class Lentisphaeria, family Acidaminococcaceae, genus Christensenellaceae R7 group, genus Marvinbryantia, order Victivallales, phylum Actinobacteria, and phylum Lentisphaerae predicted lower risk of CC. During verifiable outcomes, we found that a higher abundance of class Methanobacteria, family Actinomycetaceae, family Methanobacteriaceae, genus Lachnospiraceae UCG 010, genus Methanobrevibacter, order Actinomycetales, and order Methanobacteriales predicted a higher risk of CC, and a higher abundance of family Streptococcaceae, genus Dialister, and phylum Bacteroidetes predicted a lower risk of CC, and vice versa.

Conclusion

Our study implied a mutual causality between GM and CC, which provided a novel concept for the occurrence and development of CC, and might promote future functional or clinical analysis.

Human Papillomavirus Infections and the Role Played by Cervical and Cervico-Vaginal Microbiota-Evidence from Next-Generation Sequencing Studies

This comprehensive review encompasses studies examining changes in the cervical and cervico-vaginal microbiota (CM and CVM) in relation to human papillomavirus (HPV) using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. HPV infection remains a prominent global health concern, with a spectrum of manifestations, from benign lesions to life-threatening cervical cancers. The CM and CVM, a unique collection of microorganisms inhabiting the cervix/vagina, has emerged as a critical player in cervical health. Recent research has indicated that disruptions in the CM and CVM, characterized by a decrease in Lactobacillus and the overgrowth of other bacteria, might increase the risk of HPV persistence and the progression of cervical abnormalities. This alteration in the CM or CVM has been linked to a higher likelihood of HPV infection and cervical dysplasia. NGS technology has revolutionized the study of the cervical microbiome, providing insights into microbial diversity, dynamics, and taxonomic classifications. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, has proven invaluable in characterizing the cervical microbiome, shedding light on its role in HPV infections and paving the way for more tailored strategies to combat cervical diseases. NGS-based studies offer personalized insights into an individual's cervical microbiome. This knowledge holds promise for the development of novel diagnostic tools, targeted therapies, and preventive interventions for cervix-related conditions, including cervical cancer.

The impact of the gut microbiome on tumor immunotherapy: from mechanism to application strategies

Immunotherapy is one of the fastest developing areas in the field of oncology. Many immunological treatment strategies for refractory tumors have been approved and marketed. Nevertheless, much clinical and preclinical experimental evidence has shown that the efficacy of immunotherapy in tumor treatment varies markedly among individuals. The commensal microbiome mainly colonizes the intestinal lumen in humans, is affected by a variety of factors and exhibits individual variation. Moreover, the gut is considered the largest immune organ of the body due to its influence on the immune system. In the last few decades, with the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques and in-depth research, the view that the gut microbiota intervenes in antitumor immunotherapy through the immune system has been gradually confirmed. Here, we review important studies published in recent years focusing on the influences of microbiota on immune system and the progression of malignancy. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanism by which microbiota affect tumor immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT), and strategies for modulating the microbial composition to facilitate the antitumor immune response. Finally, opportunity and some challenges are mentioned to enable a more systematic understanding of tumor treatment in the future and promote basic research and clinical application in related fields.