Open AccessThe microbiome and prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Juan JavierDesloges,
Rana R. McKay,
Austin D. Swafford,
Gregory D. SepichPoore,
Rob Knight,
J. Kellogg Parsons
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
prostate cancer and prostatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1476-5608
pISSN - 1365-7852
DOI - 10.1038/s41391-021-00413-5
Subject(s) - microbiome , prostate cancer , medicine , human microbiome , cancer , gut microbiome , prostate , bioinformatics , biology
There is growing evidence that the microbiome is involved in development and treatment of many human diseases, including prostate cancer. There are several potential pathways for microbiome-based mechanisms for the development of prostate cancer: direct impacts of microbes or microbial products in the prostate or the urine, and indirect impacts from microbes or microbial products in the gastrointestinal tract. Unique microbial signatures have been identified within the stool, oral cavity, tissue, urine, and blood of prostate cancer patients, but studies vary in their findings. Recent studies describe potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of the microbiome, but further clinical investigation is needed. In this review, we explore the existing literature on the discovery of the human microbiome and its relationship to prostate cancer.