Klin Onkol 2024; 37(1): 20-26. DOI: 10.48095/ccko202420.
Background: The incidence of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma – PDAC) is increasing, especially in developed countries. In 2021, 496,000 new PDAC cases were diagnosed worldwide. In the Czech Republic, the incidence is one of the highest in the world, with 2,332 new PDAC patients diagnosed in 2018. Due to the absence of symptoms in the early stages, approximately 50% of patients are initially diagnosed with distant metastases. Mortality is slightly lower than the incidence count and, despite significant advances in cancer research, PDAC remains a fatal diagnosis. However, microbiome seems to be an interesting approach, and not only in PDAC patients. Microbiome is defined as the set of all microorganisms (microbiota, i.e. bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, and protozoa) and their genome in a certain environment. In a physiological setting, the gut microbiome is in symbiosis with the host organism, maintaining the balance of metabolism, mucosal immunomodulation and regulating the digestion process. When dysregulation of the number or function of intestinal microorganisms occurs, dysbiosis is developed. It may lead to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, nervous system disorders, induction of intestinal inflammation, or carcinogenesis. Microbiota can induce carcinogenesis in multiple ways, such as by activating an inflammatory response, reducing the immune system‘s ability to eliminate damaged cells, and deregulation of the host genome by microbial metabolites. This deregulation may lead to an activation of pro-apoptotic and pro-proliferative proteins. To date, research shows that the gut or oral microbiome may be involved in the development of PDAC. One of the most studied bacteria is Porphyromonas gingivalis. Other bacteria, such as Fusobacteria, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Prevotella, and Rothia, have also been shown to play a role in PDAC. Purpose: The aim of this review article is to point out one of the possible mechanisms of cancerogenesis in PDAC patients and its therapeutic influence to reduce the incidence and improve the prognosis of this aggressive disease.
