Is Candida albicans an opportunistic oncogenic pathogen?

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 18; no. 4; p. e1010413
• Main Authors: Sultan, Ahmed S, Theofilou, Vasileios Ionas, Alfaifi, Areej, Montelongo-Jauregui, Daniel, Jabra-Rizk, Mary-Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 14-04-2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acetaldehyde; Alcohol; Alcohol dehydrogenase; Angiogenesis; Animal models; Antitumor activity; Biology and Life Sciences; Cancer; Candida; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - genetics; Candidiasis; Carcinogenesis; Carcinogens; Colonization; Colony-stimulating factor; Cytokines; Dysplasia; Epidermal growth factor; Epithelium; Genome, Fungal; Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; Growth factors; Health aspects; Helper cells; Host-parasite relationships; Humans; Hyphae; Hypotheses; Immune response; Infections; Inoculation; Interferon; Interleukin 12; Interleukin 23; Leukocytes (granulocytic); Lymphocytes T; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mucosa; Oncogenes; Opportunist infection; Oral cancer; Oral cavity; Pathogens; Pearls; Reactive oxygen species; Research and Analysis Methods; Risk factors; Tumors; γ-Interferon; United States
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7366; 1553-7374
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010413

[...]although correlative, these studies have undoubtedly demonstrated increased Candida colonization, as the epithelial lining of the oral mucosa alters from normal to dysplastic epithelium [5,6]. [...]Candida recovery from the oral cavity of patients with oral epithelial dysplasia [5] and the presence of hyphae in tissue sections [6] correlated with the severity of dysplastic changes. [...]Candida was shown to display increased metabolic activity and acetaldehyde production in oral cancer compared to healthy controls, reinforcing its potential carcinogenic role [19]. ADH1, alcohol dehydrogenase 1; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; IFNγ, interferon gamma; IL, interleukin; NFκΒ, nuclear factor kappa B; OSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma; ROS, reactive oxygen species; Th, T helper. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010413.g001 On the other hand, some studies described C. albicans as a promoter or “facilitator” of cancer development, rather than initiators; in one study, oral inoculation with C. albicans or administration of the carcinogen 4NQO [21] failed to cause dysplastic changes in animal models; however, in combination, oral epithelial dysplasia occured, indicating that C. albicans may have promoted dysplastic changes [21–23]. [...]other cytokines of the Th17 family, such as IL-23, promote angiogenesis and tumor growth [29]. [...]type 17 responses antagonize IL-12 and interferon gamma (IFNγ), both of which are crucial in Th1-type antitumor immune responses [29].