Microbial Signals in Gliomas: Mechanisms, Clinical Implications, and Future Perspectives.

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome contributes to glioma biology through immune regulation, microbial metabolites, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. This review summarizes current evidence linking the microbiome-gut-brain axis to glioma development, progression, and treatment response, highlighting findings from human studies, preclinical models, and recent mechanistic investigations. The review also discusses the influence of the microbiome on anticancer therapy, current limitations of the field, and future directions for microbiome-based biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. Although clinical translation remains limited, microbial signals represent a promising area of investigation in neuro-oncology.