Editorial Comment: Microbiomes in Post-DRE Urine Samples Are Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk
Year: 2023
Type: editorial
Abstract: The interplay between the microbiome and cancer has become an increasingly captivating and explored subject. The core premise of this research is to unravel the role of urinary bacterial species in the context of prostate cancer (PCa) by investigating post–digital rectal examination (DRE) urine samples from patients with PCa and a matched control.1 The application of 16s next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques to identify and characterize these microbiomes is used as the primary determinant of the urinary microbiome. A discovery within this study is the significantly higher relative abundance of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) in PCa samples compared with controls. By contrast, Finegoldia magna (F. magna) exhibited higher relative abundance and incidence rates in the control group. The clinical implications of these microbial disparities for prostate health, although not causally established in this study, raise important questions about the relationship between C. acnes and prostate cancer. While some previous research has classified C. acnes as a skin contaminant, its prevalence in the cancer samples demands further investigation; however, there are mixed results regarding its mechanisms and inflammatory reactions in relation to cancer aggressiveness.2,3 F. magna is found predominantly in the low-risk control group. The authors mention that F. manga has the capacity to produce equol, a soy metabolite associated with reduced PCa risk. This finding is speculative, and no metabolic or population-level evidence is presented to confirm the influence and thus is considered hypothesis generating. Notably, F. magna is commonly found in the female urinary system and is linked to urinary pH. The exact mechanisms underpinning the observed differences in the microbiome remain elusive. Replication studies, larger sample sizes, and the use of diverse techniques, including DNA isolation and sequencing methods, are essential to validate and expand on these findings. Overall, the study incrementally builds knowledge regarding the urinary microbiome and prostate cancer.
Source: JU Open Plus
Author: Michael A. Liss
Language: English
Topic: Gut microbiota and health
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4389489130