A pan-cancer mycobiome analysis reveals fungal involvement in gastrointestinal and lung tumors.

TitleA pan-cancer mycobiome analysis reveals fungal involvement in gastrointestinal and lung tumors.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsDohlman AB, Klug J, Mesko M, Gao IH, Lipkin SM, Shen X, Iliev ID
JournalCell
Volume185
Issue20
Pagination3807-3822.e12
Date Published2022 Sep 29
ISSN1097-4172
KeywordsBiomarkers, Candida, DNA, Fungal, Fungi, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Mycobiome
Abstract

Fungal microorganisms (mycobiota) comprise a small but immunoreactive component of the human microbiome, yet little is known about their role in human cancers. Pan-cancer analysis of multiple body sites revealed tumor-associated mycobiomes at up to 1 fungal cell per 104 tumor cells. In lung cancer, Blastomyces was associated with tumor tissues. In stomach cancers, high rates of Candida were linked to the expression of pro-inflammatory immune pathways, while in colon cancers Candida was predictive of metastatic disease and attenuated cellular adhesions. Across multiple GI sites, several Candida species were enriched in tumor samples and tumor-associated Candida DNA was predictive of decreased survival. The presence of Candida in human GI tumors was confirmed by external ITS sequencing of tumor samples and by culture-dependent analysis in an independent cohort. These data implicate the mycobiota in the pathogenesis of GI cancers and suggest that tumor-associated fungal DNA may serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers.

DOI10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.015
Alternate JournalCell
PubMed ID36179671
PubMed Central IDPMC9564002
Grant ListR35 GM122465 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK121977 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA008748 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI163007 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK113136 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK119795 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
U01 CA214300 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States