Decoding Microbiome's Role in Prostate Cancer Progression and Treatment Response

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Microbiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading male malignancy with complex causes.
• The prostate, once thought sterile, is now known to harbor microbial communities.
• Emerging research links the microbiome to PCa development, progression, and treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on the role of the gut, urinary, seminal fluid, and prostatic microbiomes in PCa.
• To highlight the potential impact of these microbial communities on PCa pathogenesis.
• To discuss the implications for PCa diagnosis and therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing findings from studies using next-generation sequencing (NGS), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), PCR, and metagenomic analyses.
• Identification of specific bacterial and fungal taxa associated with PCa.

Main Results:

• Inconsistent findings exist regarding specific microbial associations with PCa across studies.
• Certain microbes, like *Propionibacterium acnes* and *Pseudomonas* spp., may influence inflammation and immune responses.
• These microbes might also affect resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy.

Conclusions:

• The microbiome's role in PCa is increasingly recognized but requires further investigation.
• Microbial signatures show potential as biomarkers for PCa early detection and prognosis.
• Future research may lead to novel microbiome-based therapeutic strategies for PCa.