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Narrative review links microbiome dysbiosis to gynecological cancer pathogenesis and potential therapeutic applications.

Narrative review links microbiome dysbiosis to gynecological cancer pathogenesis and potential thera…
Photo by Elen Sher / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Narrative review suggests microbiome dysbiosis influences gynecological cancer pathogenesis; associated limitations noted.

This narrative review explores the intersection of the human microbiome and gynecological malignancies, specifically focusing on cervical, ovarian, endometrial, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. The scope encompasses the investigation of microbial signatures and the potential utility of microbiome-based interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, dietary manipulation, and transplantation methods. The authors argue that recent evidence suggests the human microbiome plays a central role in the pathogenesis and development of these conditions. Consequently, microbial dysbiosis is implicated in various biological processes, including carcinogenesis pathways, HPV persistence, monitoring of therapy, and immune surveillance or therapy resistance.

The review discusses how alterations in the vaginal microbiota may influence tumor microenvironment remodeling and prognosis. However, the authors explicitly acknowledge associated limitations inherent to the current body of literature. Specific sample sizes, follow-up durations, and adverse event rates were not reported in this narrative synthesis. The text does not present pooled effect sizes or quantitative data from primary trials, as the source is a qualitative commentary rather than a meta-analysis or systematic review.

Regarding clinical application, the authors suggest that understanding these microbial interactions could transform gynecological cancer prevention, detection, and treatment strategies. Nevertheless, the review does not provide specific dosing, safety profiles, or comparative efficacy data. The certainty of these conclusions is not reported, and the evidence remains observational in nature. Clinicians should interpret these findings as suggestive of biological plausibility rather than proven therapeutic efficacy at this stage.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Gynecological malignancies such as cancer of the cervix, ovary, endometrium, vulva, and vagina pose a severe global health burden. Although conventionally attributed to genetic mutation, hormonal imbalance, and chronic viral infection, including high-risk human papillomavirus, recent evidence suggests that the human microbiome plays a central role in their pathogenesis and development. This review summarizes existing evidence that microbial dysbiosis, specifically the depletion of beneficial Lactobacillus species and overrepresentation of anaerobic organisms such as Fusobacterium, Atopobium, and Sneathia, is implicated in carcinogenesis pathways. These include chronic inflammation, immune modulation, loss of epithelial barrier integrity, microbial metabolite toxicity, and estrogen metabolism by the estrobolome. Dysbiosis in the gut and reproductive tract has been associated with HPV persistence, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and immune surveillance/therapy resistance. Consequently, microbial signatures are being investigated as a potentially successful non-invasive biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of therapy in gynecological oncology. In addition, emergent microbiome-based therapies are being considered as potential adjunct therapies, including probiotics, prebiotics, dietary manipulation, vaginal microbiota transplantation, and fecal microbiota transplantation. This review connects the basic research microbiome research to translational and clinical practice, identifies associated limitations, and highlights how it may transform gynecological cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
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