{"title":"Role of Fungi in Tumorigenesis: Promises and Challenges.","authors":"Silvia Guglietta, Xin Li, Deepak Saxena","doi":"10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-111523-023524","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The mycobiome plays a key role in the host immune responses in homeostasis and inflammation. Recent studies suggest that an imbalance in the gut's fungi contributes to chronic, noninfectious diseases such as obesity, metabolic disorders, and cancers. Pathogenic fungi can colonize specific organs, and the gut mycobiome has been linked to the development and progression of various cancers, including colorectal, breast, head and neck, and pancreatic cancers. Some fungal species can promote tumorigenesis by triggering the complement system. However, in immunocompromised patients, fungi can also inhibit this activation and establish life-threatening infections. Interestingly, the interaction of the fungi and bacteria can also induce unique host immune responses. Recent breakthroughs and advancements in high-throughput sequencing of the gut and tumor mycobiomes are highlighting novel diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for cancer. We discuss the latest developments in the field of cancer and the mycobiome and the potential benefits and challenges of antifungal therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":50753,"journal":{"name":"Annual Review of Pathology-Mechanisms of Disease","volume":"20 1","pages":"459-482"},"PeriodicalIF":28.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annual Review of Pathology-Mechanisms of Disease","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-111523-023524","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PATHOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The mycobiome plays a key role in the host immune responses in homeostasis and inflammation. Recent studies suggest that an imbalance in the gut's fungi contributes to chronic, noninfectious diseases such as obesity, metabolic disorders, and cancers. Pathogenic fungi can colonize specific organs, and the gut mycobiome has been linked to the development and progression of various cancers, including colorectal, breast, head and neck, and pancreatic cancers. Some fungal species can promote tumorigenesis by triggering the complement system. However, in immunocompromised patients, fungi can also inhibit this activation and establish life-threatening infections. Interestingly, the interaction of the fungi and bacteria can also induce unique host immune responses. Recent breakthroughs and advancements in high-throughput sequencing of the gut and tumor mycobiomes are highlighting novel diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for cancer. We discuss the latest developments in the field of cancer and the mycobiome and the potential benefits and challenges of antifungal therapies.
期刊介绍:
The Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease is a scholarly journal that has been published since 2006. Its primary focus is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in our knowledge of the causes and development of significant human diseases. The journal places particular emphasis on exploring the current and evolving concepts of disease pathogenesis, as well as the molecular genetic and morphological changes associated with various diseases. Additionally, the journal addresses the clinical significance of these findings.
In order to increase accessibility and promote the broad dissemination of research, the current volume of the journal has transitioned from a gated subscription model to an open access format. This change has been made possible through the Annual Reviews' Subscribe to Open program, which allows all articles published in this volume to be freely accessible to readers. As part of this transition, all articles in the journal are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which encourages open sharing and use of the research.