The Mediating Role of the Gut Microbiome in the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer

The concept of food as medicine is gaining renewed importance in oncology, with growing recognition that diet is not only supportive care but also a mechanistically informed intervention for cancer treatment. However, the biological basis linking nutrition to cancer outcomes has remained incomplete until recent advances positioned the gut microbiome as the missing link. Recent research has highlighted the gut microbiome as a key mediator, acting as a biochemical and immunological bridge that transforms dietary compounds into metabolites, influencing inflammation, immune function, and carcinogenesis. This perspective shifts nutrition from a supportive measure to an active, evidence-based strategy in cancer prevention. In this review, we highlight how specific foods, nutrients, and microbial consortia contribute to anticancer effects, while also identifying research gaps related to causality, multiomics integration, and the need to account for global dietary and genetic diversity.