Microbiome and Cancers of the Esophagus: A Review.

Yukiko Yano,Christian C Abnet,Arash Etemadi

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9081764

Yukiko Yano, Christian C Abnet + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081764

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Abstract

Esophageal cancer (EC) is an aggressive malignant disease ranking amongst the leading causes of cancer deaths in the world. The two main histologic subtypes, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), have distinct geographic and temporal patterns and risk factor profiles. Despite decades of research, the factors underlying these geo-temporal patterns are still not fully understood. The human microbiome has recently been implicated in various health conditions and disease, and it is possible that the microbiome may play an important role in the etiology of EC. Although studies of the microbiome and EC are still in their early stages, we review our current understanding of the potential links between ESCC, EAC, and bacterial communities in the oral cavity and esophagus. We also provide a summary of the epidemiology of EC and highlight some key challenges and future directions.

Highlights

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common incident cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer mortality in the world [1]
Studies investigating the relationship between the microbiome and EC are limited in number, and it cannot be determined whether there is a causal association at this time
Existing studies included in this review provide enough suggestive evidence of alterations in the oral and esophageal microbiome related to EC

Summary

Introduction

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common incident cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer mortality in the world [1]. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the predominant histologic type of EC (84% of all cases), followed by esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC, 15% of all cases) [2]. Whereas EAC tends to occur in the distal esophagus, ESCC can be found throughout the esophagus [3]. ESCC and EAC have a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 10 months and a 5-year survival rate of 22% in the United States (US) [6], but this value is lower in the low- and middle-income countries where this cancer is most common. Primary prevention and early detection are key to reduce the global burden of EC, but these efforts are hampered by the knowledge gap that remains about the etiologies of ESCC and EAC

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