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Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exacerbates Bladder Cancer Progression by Activating Cancer-Driven Immunosuppression
Fu-Han Yang1,2, Wentao Zhang1,2, Ruiliang Wang1,2
1Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Cancer Immunology Research
|January 9, 2026
Summary
Pseudomonas aeruginosa urinary tract infections worsen bladder cancer by creating an immunosuppressive tumor environment. This involves TLR5 activation, leading to MDSC recruitment and tumor growth, highlighting potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections pose risks for immunocompromised patients with advanced urinary tract cancers.
- The specific impact of P. aeruginosa on bladder cancer progression is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of P. aeruginosa in exacerbating bladder cancer progression.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of infection-driven tumor growth and immunosuppression.
Main Methods:
- Murine models of bladder cancer with P. aeruginosa urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Analysis of signaling pathways including Toll-like Receptor 5 (TLR5) and ERK1/2.
- Chemokine analysis (CCL20) and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) recruitment assessment.
- 16S rRNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis of human bladder cancer tissues.
Main Results:
- P. aeruginosa UTI exacerbated bladder cancer progression in mice by inducing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
- P. aeruginosa activated TLR5 on bladder cancer cells, leading to ERK1/2 phosphorylation and CCL20 secretion.
- This pathway promoted MDSC recruitment, enhancing immunosuppression and tumor growth.
- Clinical bladder cancer samples showed P. aeruginosa presence correlating with advanced stages and elevated CCL20.
Conclusions:
- P. aeruginosa promotes bladder cancer progression via a TLR5-ERK1/2-CCL20-MDSC axis, contributing to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
- This study identifies a significant interplay between microbial infection and cancer pathogenesis in bladder malignancies.
- Targeting this infection-driven pathway offers potential therapeutic strategies for bladder cancer.
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