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Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis
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[Fungal Infections]

Hanako Kurai1

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital.

Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|May 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Fungal infections in cancer patients can delay treatment and worsen survival. Understanding risk factors and early diagnosis, especially with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), is crucial for better outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Fungal infections are rare but serious complications in cancer patients, potentially delaying critical treatments like chemotherapy or surgery.
  • Common fungal pathogens include Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Pneumocystis jirovecii, necessitating a thorough understanding of their risk factors and clinical presentations.
  • The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and anti-CTLA-4 has revolutionized cancer treatment but can lead to immune-related adverse effects requiring immunosuppressive therapy, potentially increasing fungal disease risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significance of fungal diseases as a complication in cancer patients.
  • To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and understanding risk factors for fungal infections in oncology.
  • To discuss the potential increased risk of fungal infections associated with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and subsequent immunosuppressive therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on fungal infections in cancer patients.
  • Analysis of common fungal pathogens and their prevalence.
  • Examination of the impact of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, on fungal disease risk.

Main Results:

  • Fungal infections can lead to significant delays in cancer treatment, negatively impacting patient survival.
  • Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Pneumocystis jirovecii are the primary fungal agents causing infections in this population.
  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and associated immunosuppressive therapies may elevate the risk of developing fungal diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Early detection and management of fungal infections are vital for improving overall survival in cancer patients.
  • Awareness of the specific risks associated with different fungal pathogens and cancer therapies is essential for clinical practice.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between ICIs, immunosuppression, and fungal infections in cancer care.

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