The multipotential effect of microbiome in lung cancer development and progression

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite the introduction of numerous drugs to cure this deadly disease, treatment outcomes differ significantly among patients. This differential response has drawn attention to individual patient characteristics, particularly the microbiome. In recent years, the microbiome has garnered significant interest from scientists in various fields including autoimmune, inflammatory, and cancer research. These studies have primarily focused on the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome, pointing out its fundamental effect on the development and progression of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer. Recent findings have also highlighted the impact of the gut microbiome on the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer patients. In this chapter, we will delve into the multifaceted role of microbiome in lung cancer prevention, progression, and treatment outcome.