Reprogramming prostate cancer through the microbiome

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Microbiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) is a significant global health issue influenced by genetics, epigenetics, hormones, and environment.
• The human microbiome, particularly in the gut, urinary tract, and prostate, is increasingly recognized as a key factor in PCa initiation, progression, and treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of the gut-prostate microbial axis in PCa.
• To investigate how microbial dysbiosis impacts PCa development and therapeutic outcomes.
• To highlight the potential of microbiome-based interventions for PCa management.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of high-resolution multi-omics data from gut, urinary, and prostate microbial communities.
• Investigation of microbial metabolites and their impact on oncogenic pathways (e.g., IGF-1/MAPK/PI3K, NF-κB/JAK/STAT).
• Assessment of microbial influence on immune surveillance, hormonal metabolism, and epigenetic regulation.

Main Results:

• Microbial dysbiosis promotes chronic inflammation and modulates androgen receptor signaling in PCa.
• Specific bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila can enhance anti-tumor immunity and improve response to androgen deprivation therapy.
• Microbiota-derived factors influence miRNA expression and epigenetic signatures, affecting tumor plasticity and therapy resistance.

Conclusions:

• The interconnectedness of the prostate, urinary, and gut microbiomes presents novel targets for PCa diagnostics and therapies.
• Microbiome-based strategies (probiotics, prebiotics, FMT, diet, bacteriophages) show promise for restoring balance and improving treatment efficacy.
• Further longitudinal studies integrating multi-omics and host-microbe interactomics are needed for clinical translation.