Pragmatic Expectancy on Microbiota and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Microbiology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Lung cancer arises from gene mutations, with lungs being susceptible to heterogeneous tumors due to environmental exposures.
• The lung microbiome, encompassing microorganisms and their metabolites, interacts with both normal and cancerous cells.
• Emerging evidence links the microbiota to cancer predisposition, initiation, progression, and patient prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the mechanistic interplay between lung cancer and the associated microbiota.
• To highlight the microbiome as a critical component of the tumor microenvironment.
• To identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting the lung-microbiota axis.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on lung cancer and microbiome interactions.
• Analysis of mechanistic insights into cellular and metabolic crosstalk.
• Focus on diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Main Results:

• The lung microbiome significantly impacts cancer development and progression.
• Microbial metabolites and structural components actively modulate the tumor microenvironment.
• The complex lung-cancer-microbiota axis presents opportunities for targeted interventions.

Conclusions:

• The lung microbiome is a key player in lung cancer pathogenesis and progression.
• Understanding these interactions can lead to innovative diagnostic biomarkers.
• Targeting the microbiome offers promising therapeutic avenues for lung cancer treatment.