Exploring the microbiome: Uncovering the link with lung cancer and implications for diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Tobacco smoking and air pollution are believed to be responsible for more than 90% of lung cancers. Respiratory pathogens are also known to be associated with the initiation and development of lung cancer. Despite the fact that the bacterial biomass in the lungs is lower than that in the intestinal tract, emerging evidence indicates that the lung is colonized by a diverse array of microbes. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the role of dysbiosis of the lung microbiota in the progression of lung cancer. In this review, we summarize the current information about the relationship between the microbiome and lung cancer. The objective is to provide an overview of the core composition of the microbiota in lung cancer as well as the role of specific dysbiosis of the lung microbiota in the progression of lung cancer and treatment of the disease.