title: The microbiome and cancer.
abstract: Microbiota and host form a complex 'super-organism' in which symbiotic relationships confer benefits to the host in many key aspects of life. However, defects in the regulatory circuits of the host that control bacterial sensing and homeostasis, or alterations of the microbiome, through environmental changes (infection, diet or lifestyle), may disturb this symbiotic relationship and promote disease. Increasing evidence indicates a key role for the bacterial microbiota in carcinogenesis. In this Opinion article, we discuss links between the bacterial microbiota and cancer, with a particular focus on immune responses, dysbiosis, genotoxicity, metabolism and strategies to target the microbiome for cancer prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, and Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Schwabe
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jobin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D004032:Diet; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D051379:Mice; D064307:Microbiota; D009153:Mutagens; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013559:Symbiosis; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D037521:Virulence Factors