Where lung cancer and tuberculosis intersect: recent advances

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology

Background:

• Lung cancer (LC) and tuberculosis (TB) are significant global health concerns.
• Increasing LC survival rates have led to a rise in co-occurring TB and LC cases.
• The molecular links between TB and LC, particularly shared immunosuppressive mechanisms, require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the intertwined molecular mechanisms connecting TB and LC.
• To explore shared features in tumor and granuloma microenvironments, including immunometabolism and cell plasticity.
• To identify potential therapeutic targets for managing concurrent TB and LC infections.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on TB and LC.
• Analysis of molecular similarities in immunosuppression, immunometabolism, cell plasticity, and inflammatory pathways.
• Integration of spatial multi-omics data and microbiome insights.
• Examination of immunization-related molecular mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Shared immunosuppressive characteristics exist between tumor and granuloma microenvironments.
• Immunometabolism, cell plasticity, and inflammatory signaling pathways are key areas of overlap.
• Spatial multi-omics and microbiome data offer novel insights into the TB-LC relationship.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the shared molecular underpinnings of TB and LC is crucial for developing effective treatments.
• Targeting common pathways may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for patients with both conditions.
• Further research into these interconnected mechanisms is warranted to improve patient outcomes.