Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2015
Differential Circulating Fungal Microbiome in Prostate Cancer Patients Compared to Healthy Control Individuals
Xu Wang1,2, Zejun Zhou3, David Turner4
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, 29425 SC, USA.
Backgrounds:
Infection and inflammation play an important role in prostate cancer (PCa) etiology and pathogenesis. However, the environmental drivers for PCa are not fully understood.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study, we analyzed circulating fungal microbiome in plasma samples from age and race-matched healthy control men (n = 34) and preoperative PCa patients (n = 31).
Results:
The fungal community in the plasma exhibited differences between individuals with PCa and healthy controls according to the beta diversity; there was no difference in the alpha diversity. Moreover, the relative abundance of several fungi differed between the two study groups from the class to species levels. The most significant differences were Filobasidiales family, Pyronemataceae family, and Cryptococcus ater species, which were enriched in PCa patients compared to controls. The increased Bipolaris genus was associated with low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, increased Sordariomycetes class was associated with severe pathological stage, and decreased Phoma herbarum species was associated with disease relapse, compared to corresponding controls. Several fungi from class to species levels were increased in the controls compared to patients.
Conclusion:
This is the first study to show plasma distinct fungal microbiome and its associations with PSA levels, relapse, and pathology stages in PCa patients.
Insights
Prostate cancer (PCa) patients show distinct plasma fungal microbiomes compared to healthy individuals. These fungal differences correlate with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, disease stage, and relapse risk in PCa.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Oncology
- Microbiome research
Background:
- Infection and inflammation are implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) development.
- Environmental factors influencing PCa etiology require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in the circulating fungal microbiome between PCa patients and healthy controls.
- To explore associations between plasma fungi and PCa characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study analyzing plasma fungal microbiome.
- Comparison of 31 PCa patients and 34 healthy controls.
- Beta and alpha diversity analysis, and relative abundance of fungal taxa.
Main Results:
- Distinct fungal community composition (beta diversity) observed between PCa patients and controls.
- Enrichment of Filobasidiales, Pyronemataceae, and Cryptococcus ater in PCa patients.
- Fungal abundance linked to PSA levels, pathological stage, and disease relapse.
Conclusions:
- First study demonstrating a distinct plasma fungal microbiome in PCa patients.
- Plasma fungi are associated with key clinical indicators of PCa.
- Potential for fungal microbiome as a biomarker in PCa.
