Analysis of the Relationship Between Cervical Cancer Progression and the Microbiome.

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading malignancy among women worldwide. Emerging evidence suggests that alterations in the cervical microbiota may influence its development and progression.

Objective: To compare the cervical microbiota composition and diversity between cervical cancer patients and healthy women using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Methods: Between January and June 2024, cervical tissue samples were collected from 40 cervical cancer patients and 40 healthy women. Microbial DNA was extracted and the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform. QIIME2 and R software were used for microbial classification and diversity analysis. LEfSe was applied to identify differentially abundant taxa between groups.

Results: At the phylum level, Firmicutes dominated the control group (67.91%), while dropped to 31.03% in cervical cancer patients. Actinobacteria (26.22% vs 14.37%) and Proteobacteria (27.61% vs 0.72%) were significantly elevated in the cancer group. At the genus level, Lactobacillus was predominant in controls (46.27%), while reduced in patients, and Rhodococcus and Klebsiella were notably enriched. Alpha diversity (Shannon index) exhibited no significant difference between groups, whereas richness indices (Chao1 and ACE) were significantly higher in the cancer group (p < 0.05). Beta diversity analysis revealed a clear distinction in community structure (t = 10.225, P = 0.001). LEfSe identified Rhodococcus (LDA = 5.24), Klebsiella (LDA = 5.17), and Ralstonia as significantly more abundant in the cancer group, while Firmicutes (LDA = 5.31) was characteristic of the control group.

Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients exhibited distinct cervical microbiota profiles, with reduced Firmicutes and elevated Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Increased levels of Rhodococcus and Klebsiella suggested a potential association between microbial dysbiosis and cervical cancer. These findings highlight the microbiome's relevance to tumor biology and support further investigation into its diagnostic and therapeutic potential.