Helminths and Cancers From the Evolutionary Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Oncology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Microbiome Research

Background:

• Helminths, including Platyhelminthes and Nematoda, infect millions globally.
• Specific helminths, such as blood flukes (Schistosoma spp.) and liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini), are implicated in human cancers.
• Chronic inflammation is a proposed mechanism linking helminth infection to cancer development, potentially exacerbated by microbiome-associated bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current knowledge on helminth-induced human cancers.
• To identify helminth and human biomarkers associated with these cancers.
• To explore the role of phylogenetics and molecular evolution in cancer research.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on helminth infections and associated cancers.
• Analysis of identified helminth and human biomarkers.
• Application of phylogenetic and molecular evolution frameworks for protein analysis.

Main Results:

• Helminth infections are associated with cancers such as cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal hepatocellular carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and urinary bladder cancer.
• Chronic inflammation and microbiome alterations are implicated in cancer progression.
• Various biomarkers are suggested for helminth infection and cancer, though mechanisms require further elucidation.
• Evolutionary analysis of helminth proteins can aid in homology identification and function prediction.

Conclusions:

• Helminth infections represent a significant etiological factor in several human cancers.
• Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary approaches offer powerful tools for discovering novel biomarkers.
• This research has implications for phylomedicine, aiding in disease diagnostics and intervention strategies.