Ruben Bellotti1, Cornelia Speth2, Timon E Adolph3, Cornelia Lass-Flörl2, Maria Effenberger3, Dietmar Öfner1, Manuel Maglione1. 1. Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Center of Operative Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. 2. Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. 3. Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Metabolism & Endocrinology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora has emerged as an oncogenic contributor in different malignancies. Recent findings suggest a crucial tumor-promoting role of micro- and mycobiome alterations also in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: To summarize the current knowledge about this topic, a systematic literature search of articles published until October 2020 was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed). RESULTS: An increasing number of publications describe associations between bacterial and fungal species and PDAC development. Despite the high inter-individual variability of the commensal flora, some studies identify specific microbial signatures in PDAC patients, including oral commensals like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum or Gram-negative bacteria like Proteobacteria. The role of Helicobacter spp. remains unclear. Recent isolation of Malassezia globosa from PDAC tissue suggest also the mycobiota as a crucial player of tumorigenesis. Based on described molecular mechanisms and interactions between the pancreatic tissue and the immune system this review proposes a model of how the micro- and the mycobial dysbiosis could contribute to tumorigenesis in PDAC. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of micro- and mycobial dysbiosis in pancreatic tumor tissue opens a fascinating perspective on PDAC oncogenesis. Further studies will pave the way for novel tumor markers and treatment strategies.
BACKGROUND:Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora has emerged as an oncogenic contributor in different malignancies. Recent findings suggest a crucial tumor-promoting role of micro- and mycobiome alterations also in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: To summarize the current knowledge about this topic, a systematic literature search of articles published until October 2020 was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed). RESULTS: An increasing number of publications describe associations between bacterial and fungal species and PDAC development. Despite the high inter-individual variability of the commensal flora, some studies identify specific microbial signatures in PDACpatients, including oral commensals like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum or Gram-negative bacteria like Proteobacteria. The role of Helicobacterspp. remains unclear. Recent isolation of Malassezia globosa from PDAC tissue suggest also the mycobiota as a crucial player of tumorigenesis. Based on described molecular mechanisms and interactions between the pancreatic tissue and the immune system this review proposes a model of how the micro- and the mycobial dysbiosis could contribute to tumorigenesis in PDAC. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of micro- and mycobial dysbiosis in pancreatic tumor tissue opens a fascinating perspective on PDAC oncogenesis. Further studies will pave the way for novel tumor markers and treatment strategies.