Fusobacterium nucleatum: Unraveling its potential role in gastric carcinogenesis

Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that plays a key role in the development of oral inflammation, such as periodontitis and gingivitis. In the last 10 years, F. nucleatum has been identified as a prevalent bacterium associated with colorectal adenocarcinoma and has also been linked to cancer progression, metastasis and poor disease outcome. While the role of F. nucleatum in colon carcinogenesis has been intensively studied, its role in gastric carcinogenesis is still poorly understood. Although Helicobacter pylori infection has historically been recognized as the strongest risk factor for the development of gastric cancer (GC), with recent advances in DNA sequencing technology, other members of the gastric microbial community, and F. nucleatum in particular, have received increasing attention. In this review, we summarize the existing knowledge on the involvement of F. nucleatum in gastric carcinogenesis and address the potential translational and clinical significance of F. nucleatum in GC.