Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
The Harvard T. H. Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Nat Rev Cancer. 2023 Sep;23(9):600-618. doi: 10.1038/s41568-023-00594-2. Epub 2023 Jul 3.
Cancer cells originate from a series of acquired genetic mutations that can drive their uncontrolled cell proliferation and immune evasion. Environmental factors, including the microorganisms that colonize the human body, can shift the metabolism, growth pattern and function of neoplastic cells and shape the tumour microenvironment. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is now recognized as a hallmark of cancer by the scientific community. However, only a few microorganisms have been identified that directly initiate tumorigenesis or skew the immune system to generate a tumour-permissive milieu. Over the past two decades, research on the human microbiome and its functionalities within and across individuals has revealed microbiota-focused strategies for health and disease. Here, we review the evolving understanding of the mechanisms by which the microbiota acts in cancer initiation, promotion and progression. We explore the roles of bacteria in gastrointestinal tract malignancies and cancers of the lung, breast and prostate. Finally, we discuss the promises and limitations of targeting or harnessing bacteria in personalized cancer prevention, diagnostics and treatment.
癌细胞源自一系列获得性遗传突变，这些突变可驱动其不受控制的细胞增殖和免疫逃逸。环境因素，包括定植于人体的微生物，可改变肿瘤细胞的代谢、生长模式和功能，并塑造肿瘤微环境。肠道微生物组的失调现在被科学界认为是癌症的一个标志。然而，只有少数微生物被确定可以直接引发肿瘤发生或使免疫系统偏向于产生肿瘤允许的环境。在过去的二十年中，对人类微生物组及其在个体内部和个体之间的功能的研究揭示了以微生物组为重点的健康和疾病策略。在这里，我们综述了对微生物组在癌症起始、促进和进展中作用机制的不断发展的认识。我们探讨了细菌在胃肠道恶性肿瘤以及肺癌、乳腺癌和前列腺癌中的作用。最后，我们讨论了在个性化癌症预防、诊断和治疗中靶向或利用细菌的前景和局限性。
