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Background <p>The human gut hosts a complex and dynamic community of microbes—collectively termed the gut microbiome—which plays a crucial role in maintaining immune function, metabolic processes, and intestinal barrier integrity. Emerging research over the past decade has highlighted the microbiome’s influence on cancer development, particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.</p> Objectives <p>This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the interplay between the gut microbiome and immune system in gastrointestinal cancers, with a focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It also explores potential microbiome-based strategies for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and therapy.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a comprehensive review of recent literature on microbial diversity, dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, and their immunomodulatory roles in CRC and HCC. Key studies addressing microbiota-induced inflammation, immune surveillance, and tumor microenvironment modulation were analyzed.</p> Results <p>Disruptions in microbial diversity, increased pathogenic bacteria, and depletion of beneficial species contribute to chronic inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and altered immune surveillance in CRC and HCC. Microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids, and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) influence tumor-associated immune responses locally and systemically. Microbiome-based interventions—including probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and microbiome-informed immunotherapy—show promise in improving patient outcomes.</p> Conclusions <p>Understanding the gut microbiome–immune axis provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis, progression, and treatment response of digestive system cancers. Integration of microbiome profiling into clinical practice may enable early detection and personalized therapy. However, translational challenges remain, and further research is needed to develop targeted, individualized microbiome-modulating strategies.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Microbiome–Immune Interplay in Colorectal and Hepatocellular Carcinomas

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月15日

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  • Sara Maher

摘要

Background

The human gut hosts a complex and dynamic community of microbes—collectively termed the gut microbiome—which plays a crucial role in maintaining immune function, metabolic processes, and intestinal barrier integrity. Emerging research over the past decade has highlighted the microbiome’s influence on cancer development, particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Objectives

This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the interplay between the gut microbiome and immune system in gastrointestinal cancers, with a focus on colorectal cancer (CRC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It also explores potential microbiome-based strategies for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and therapy.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive review of recent literature on microbial diversity, dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, and their immunomodulatory roles in CRC and HCC. Key studies addressing microbiota-induced inflammation, immune surveillance, and tumor microenvironment modulation were analyzed.

Results

Disruptions in microbial diversity, increased pathogenic bacteria, and depletion of beneficial species contribute to chronic inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and altered immune surveillance in CRC and HCC. Microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids, and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) influence tumor-associated immune responses locally and systemically. Microbiome-based interventions—including probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and microbiome-informed immunotherapy—show promise in improving patient outcomes.

Conclusions

Understanding the gut microbiome–immune axis provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis, progression, and treatment response of digestive system cancers. Integration of microbiome profiling into clinical practice may enable early detection and personalized therapy. However, translational challenges remain, and further research is needed to develop targeted, individualized microbiome-modulating strategies.

Graphical Abstract