Emerging Relationship between the Gut Microbiome and Prostate Cancer
- Author:
Makoto MATSUSHITA
1
;
Kazutoshi FUJITA
;
Koji HATANO
;
Marco A. DE VELASCO
;
Akira TSUJIMURA
;
Hirotsugu UEMURA
;
Norio NONOMURA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review Article
- From:The World Journal of Men's Health 2023;41(4):759-768
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The human gut microbiota changes under the influence of environmental and genetic factors, affecting human health. Extensive studies have revealed that the gut microbiome is closely associated with many non-intestinal diseases. Among these, the influence of the gut microbiome on cancer biology and the efficacy of cancer therapy has attracted much attention. Prostate cancer cells are affected by direct contact with the microbiota of local tissues and urine, and a relationship between prostate cancer cells and the gut microbiota has been suggested. In the human gut microbiota, bacterial composition differs depending on prostate cancer characteristics, such as histological grade and castration resistance. Moreover, the involvement of several intestinal bacteria in testosterone metabolism has been demonstrated, suggesting that they may affect prostate cancer progression and treatment through this mechanism. Basic research indicates that the gut microbiome also plays an important role in the underlying biology of prostate cancer through multiple mechanisms owing to the activity of microbial-derived metabolites and components. In this review, we describe the evidence surrounding the emerging relationship between the gut microbiome and prostate cancer, termed the “gut-prostate axis.”
