Lecture 18: Cancer and microbiome

Question 1

What were the first links seen between microbiota and cancer?

Answer 1

Dysbiosis

Question 2

What cancers are triggered/promoted by specific pathogens?

Answer 2

HPV = cervical cancer
Hepatatis B and C = hepatocellular carcinomas
Human T-cell Leukemia Virus-1 = T-cell leukemia
Helicobacter pylori = gastric carcinoma
Fusobacterium nucleatum = colorectal cancer

Question 3

How does the microbiota influence cancer?

Answer 3

Negative effects on cancer treatments
1. metabolism of drugs/hormones
2. Suppression of immune-surveiliance

Question 4

How can the microbiota be manipulated to elicit better cancer outcomes?

Answer 4

FMT
Antibiotics
Prebiotics / probiotics
Other drugs
Caloric restriction

Metabolism > reactivation of immune-survaiance > directed production of cancer killing agents > antiobitoics manipulation to kill-off cancer promoting members