Microbiome and Cancers of the Esophagus: A Review

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 8; p. 1764
• Main Authors: Yano, Yukiko, Etemadi, Arash, Abnet, Christian C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 18-08-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; Alcohol; Bacteria; Cancer; Disease; Epidemiology; esophageal adenocarcinoma; Esophageal cancer; esophageal microbiome; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Esophagus; Etiology; Gastroesophageal reflux; High income; Medical prognosis; Metabolism; Microbiomes; Microorganisms; Obesity; Oral cavity; oral health; Oral hygiene; oral microbiome; Review; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Smoking; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tobacco; Netherlands; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Europe; China
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081764

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.