The potential of gut microbiome as a non-invasive predictive biomarker for early detection of pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma

K. Kaźmierczak-Siedlecka, E. Stachowska, M. Folwarski, K. Przewłócka, W. Makarewicz, E. Bryl

Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. leokadia@gumed.edu.pl

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to discuss the potency of gut microbiome as a non-invasive predictive biomarker for early detection of pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed the available up-to-date literature (PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar databases) regarding the link between gut microbiome and early detection of pancreatic cancer, as well as hepatocellular carcinoma. The following search linked to gut microbiome and aforementioned cancers was used: ‘gut microbiome’, ‘gut microbiota’, ‘pancreatic cancer’, ‘pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma’, hepatocellular carcinoma’, ‘microbial biomarkers’, ‘fungal microbiota’, ‘mycobiota’.  The search was conducted in English.

RESULTS: The association between gut microbiota imbalance and development of pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma has been recognized during last several years. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, whose carcinogenesis is strongly related to oral microbial dysbiosis, H. pylori infection, bactibilia, hepatotropic viruses, and intrapancreatic microbiota. It is known that gut-liver axis exists and may affect hepatocarcinogenesis. Currently, the treatment strategies of these cancers are strongly limited and there are not well-recognized screening tools to early diagnose them. The growing attention towards the use of gut microbiome as a predictive non-invasive biomarker to detect pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma in early stage has been observed.

CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, the field regarding the link between gut microbiome as a non-invasive biomarkers and early detection of pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma exists, however, it is not well-investigated. Additionally, many of the studies were conducted with small sample sizes, whereas biomarkers are ethnicity-dependent and should be validated in wide range of populations. Nevertheless, these aspects are promising and open up new diagnostic options.

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