title: Candida albicans and cancer: Can this yeast induce cancer development or progression?
abstract: There is currently increasing concern about the relation between microbial infections and cancer. More and more studies support the view that there is an association, above all, when the causal agents are bacteria or viruses. This review adds to this, summarizing evidence that the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans increases the risk of carcinogenesis and metastasis. Until recent years, Candida spp. had fundamentally been linked to cancerous processes as it is an opportunist pathogen that takes advantage of the immunosuppressed state of patients particularly due to chemotherapy. In contrast, the most recent findings demonstrate that C. albicans is capable of promoting cancer by several mechanisms, as described in the review: production of carcinogenic byproducts, triggering of inflammation, induction of Th17 response and molecular mimicry. We underline the need not only to control this type of infection during cancer treatment, especially given the major role of this yeast species in nosocomial infections, but also to find new therapeutic approaches to avoid the pro-tumor effect of this fungal species.
authors: a Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology .
authors: Andoni
authors: A
authors: Ramirez-Garcia
authors: a Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology .
authors: Aitor
authors: A
authors: Rementeria
authors: b Department of Stomatology II , and.
authors: Jose Manuel
authors: JM
authors: Aguirre-Urizar
authors: c Department of Nursing , University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) , Leioa , Spain.
authors: Maria Dolores
authors: MD
authors: Moragues
authors: a Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology .
authors: Aitziber
authors: A
authors: Antoran
authors: a Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology .
authors: Aize
authors: A
authors: Pellon
authors: a Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology .
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Abad-Diaz-de-Cerio
authors: a Department of Immunology, Microbiology, and Parasitology .
authors: Fernando Luis
authors: FL
authors: Hernando
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition
keywords: Carcinogen; carcinogenesis; inflammation; metastasis; tumor