Causal relationship between 150 skin microbiomes and prostate cancer: insights from bidirectional mendelian randomization and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Despite relevant research, the relationship between skin microbiomes and prostate cancer remains controversial. This study utilizes bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis combined with meta-analysis to explore the potential link between the two.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify the causal relationship between 150 skin microbiomes and prostate cancer (PCa) using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) and meta-analysis.

METHODS

This study employed a comprehensive Bidirectional Two-sample MR analysis using publicly available genetic data to ascertain the relationship between 150 skin microbiomes and PCa. We conducted extensive sensitivity analyses, tests for heterogeneity, and assessments of horizontal pleiotropy to ensure the accuracy of our results. Subsequently, we conducted a meta-analysis to strengthen our conclusions' robustness further. Finally, we performed reverse causal verification on the positive skin microbiomes and PCa.

RESULTS

After conducting a meta-analysis and multiple corrections of the MR analysis results, our findings reveal a correlation between Neisseria in dry skin and PCa risk, identifying it as a risk factor. The IVW result shows an of 1.009 (95% : 1.004-1.014, = 0.027). Furthermore, the reverse MR analysis indicates the absence of an inverse causal relationship between the two. Apart from the identified skin microbiome, no significant associations were found between the other microbiomes and PCa.

CONCLUSIONS

The study identified a correlation between Neisseria in dry skin, one of the 150 skin microbiomes, and the risk of developing PCa, establishing it as a risk factor for increased susceptibility to PCa.