Microbiome Interactions in Esophageal Cancer
Summary
The human oesophageal microbiome comprises a dynamic consortium of bacteria, fungi and viruses that interact closely with host epithelial and immune cells. In both oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), disease progression is accompanied by loss of microbial diversity and emergence of pro-inflammatory taxa. Dysbiotic communities may drive carcinogenesis by modulating bile acid metabolism, disrupting epithelial barrier integrity and activating oncogenic pathways such as PI3K–AKT–β-catenin and TLR–NF-κB. Conversely, restoration of eubiosis through dietary or prebiotic interventions can attenuate inflammation, rebalance metabolite profiles and inhibit tumour development. Host genetics, environmental exposures and microbial metabolites converge to shape tumour microenvironments, offering novel biomarkers for early detection and targets for microbiome-based therapies.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Analysis of gastric corpus mucosal microbiota in early ESCC and its precursor squamous dysplasia revealed distinct community structures compared with healthy controls. Beta diversity metrics showed significant separation of microbial profiles, with enrichment of Clostridiales and Erysipelotrichales orders in carcinoma and dysplasia samples. These alterations implicate the gastric microbiome in the initiation of squamous carcinogenesis and suggest potential early biomarkers detectable through targeted mucosal sampling.
Microbiome Interactions in Esophageal Cancer publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microbiome interactions in esophageal cancer across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Microbiome: The collective genomes and ecological community of microorganisms residing in a specific environment.
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT): A cellular process in which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal traits, enhancing migratory and invasive capacities.
Dysbiosis: A disruption or imbalance in the normal composition of microbial communities.
Barrett’s oesophagus: A precancerous condition in which the normal squamous lining of the distal oesophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium.
Prebiotic proanthocyanidins: Dietary polyphenolic compounds that selectively stimulate beneficial gut and oesophageal microbes.
16S rRNA amplicon sequencing: A molecular technique to profile bacterial community composition by targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene.
References
- Synergism of Fusobacterium periodonticum and N-nitrosamines promote the formation of EMT subtypes in ESCC by modulating Wnt3a palmitoylation. Gut Microbes (2024).
- Human microbiomes in cancer development and therapy. MedComm (2023).
- Prebiotic proanthocyanidins inhibit bile reflux-induced esophageal adenocarcinoma through reshaping the gut microbiome and esophageal metabolome. JCI Insight (2024).
- Variations of gastric corpus microbiota are associated with early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and squamous dysplasia. Scientific Reports (2015).
- Esophageal microbiome signature in patients with Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. PLOS ONE (2020).
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