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The microbiome and prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 25, pages 159–164 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

There is growing evidence that the microbiome is involved in development and treatment of many human diseases, including prostate cancer. There are several potential pathways for microbiome-based mechanisms for the development of prostate cancer: direct impacts of microbes or microbial products in the prostate or the urine, and indirect impacts from microbes or microbial products in the gastrointestinal tract. Unique microbial signatures have been identified within the stool, oral cavity, tissue, urine, and blood of prostate cancer patients, but studies vary in their findings. Recent studies describe potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of the microbiome, but further clinical investigation is needed. In this review, we explore the existing literature on the discovery of the human microbiome and its relationship to prostate cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, UC San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Juan Javier-DesLoges & Rana R. McKay

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UC San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Rana R. McKay

  3. Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Austin D. Swafford, Gregory D. Sepich-Poore & Rob Knight

  4. Janssen Research and Development, San Diego, CA, USA

    J. Kellogg Parsons

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  1. Juan Javier-DesLoges
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Javier-DesLoges, J., McKay, R.R., Swafford, A.D. et al. The microbiome and prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 25, 159–164 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-021-00413-5

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