What is the relationship between penile cancer and the microbiome? A scoping review

Introduction

The microbiota is defined as the microorganisms in a particular environment. Conversely, the term microbiome is less firmly defined and is used to reference the habitat.

Objective

To identify the association between the microbiome and the penile cancer

Evidence Acquisition

We performed this scoping review according to the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute. We found five articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We focused on oncogenesis and factors that alter the penile microbiome. We were not limited to language or setting. We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and LILACS from inception to the present day.

Evidence Synthesis

We found nine studies describing multiple factors that could disturb the microbiome, such as sexual behavior, anatomic alterations including circumcision, and inflammatory factors: lichen sclerosus, poor genital hygiene, compromised immune system, smoking, and HPV infection.

Conclusion

Overall, knowledge of the composition of the penile microbiota and its role in penile cancer oncogenesis is minimal.

Patient Summary

Future studies should focus on the relationship between the microbiome and penile cancer to broaden this field of knowledge.