Role of the microbiome in non-gastrointestinal cancers

Core Tip

Core tip: “The forgotten organ”, the human microbiome, comprises a community of microorganisms that colonizes various sites of the human body. A complex host-microbiome relationship has emerged in which many functions became codependent. This coupling becomes evident when disruption in the microbiome composition, termed dysbiosis, is mirrored by the development of pathologies in the host. Among the most serious consequences of dysbiosis, is the development of cancer. As many as 20% of total cancers worldwide are caused by a microbial agent. Here, we will review the available evidences implicating microbiome involvement in the development and progression of non-gastrointestinal cancers. Developing a system-wide approach to cancer-microbiome studies will be crucial in understanding how microbiome influences carcinogenesis, and may enable to employ microbiome-targeting approaches as part of cancer treatment.