A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor
IntroductionEndometrial cancer (EC) is a significant gynecological malignancy with increasing incidence worldwide. Emerging evidence highlights the role of the uterine microbiome in the pathogenesis of EC. This study aims to characterize the uterine microbiome in EC patients and identify potential m...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1511625/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832582911897894912 |
|---|---|
| author | Olga Kuźmycz Aleksandra Kowalczyk Aleksandra Bolanowska Anna Drozdzowska Jakub Lach Jakub Lach Wiktoria Wierzbińska Wiktoria Wierzbińska Tomasz Kluz Tomasz Kluz Paweł Stączek |
| author_facet | Olga Kuźmycz Aleksandra Kowalczyk Aleksandra Bolanowska Anna Drozdzowska Jakub Lach Jakub Lach Wiktoria Wierzbińska Wiktoria Wierzbińska Tomasz Kluz Tomasz Kluz Paweł Stączek |
| author_sort | Olga Kuźmycz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionEndometrial cancer (EC) is a significant gynecological malignancy with increasing incidence worldwide. Emerging evidence highlights the role of the uterine microbiome in the pathogenesis of EC. This study aims to characterize the uterine microbiome in EC patients and identify potential microbial biomarkers, with a focus on Anaerococcus as a differentiating taxon.MethodsThe endocervical canal swabs from patients with EC (n=16) and non-cancerous patients (EM, n=13) were collected. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Illumina platform. Bioinformatic analyses were performed with QIIME2, and statistical comparisons were conducted to assess differences in microbial composition and diversity. In vitro experiments were conducted to assess the functional impact of Anaerococcus on human uterine fibroblasts, including its ability to adhere to the human cells and induce oxidative stress.ResultsThe α-diversity metrics, including Shannon entropy and observed amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), revealed significantly higher microbial diversity in EC samples compared to EM. Anaerococcus was identified as a key taxon differentiating EC from EM groups, showing a higher relative abundance in EC samples. Functional predictions and in vitro assays indicated that Anaerococcus may contribute to carcinogenesis by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and has the high ability to adhere to the human endometrial fibroblasts.DiscussionThe study provides evidence of distinct microbial signatures in EC, with Anaerococcus emerging as a potential biomarker. The in vitro findings suggest its role in endometrial carcinogenesis, underscoring its potential as a target for future diagnostic and therapeutic applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1ffc1ec6f7b49a6a4b6bdf7e1917972 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1ffc1ec6f7b49a6a4b6bdf7e19179722025-01-29T06:45:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-01-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15116251511625A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactorOlga Kuźmycz0Aleksandra Kowalczyk1Aleksandra Bolanowska2Anna Drozdzowska3Jakub Lach4Jakub Lach5Wiktoria Wierzbińska6Wiktoria Wierzbińska7Tomasz Kluz8Tomasz Kluz9Paweł Stączek10Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental, Protection, Lodz, PolandDepartment of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental, Protection, Lodz, PolandDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fryderyk Chopin University Hospital No. 1, Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fryderyk Chopin University Hospital No. 1, Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental, Protection, Lodz, PolandBiobank Lab, Department of Cancer Biology and Epigenetics, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Lodz, PolandDepartment of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental, Protection, Lodz, PolandBioMedChem Doctoral School of the University of Lodz and Lodz Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, PolandDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fryderyk Chopin University Hospital No. 1, Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Gynecology, Gynecology Oncology and Obstetrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental, Protection, Lodz, PolandIntroductionEndometrial cancer (EC) is a significant gynecological malignancy with increasing incidence worldwide. Emerging evidence highlights the role of the uterine microbiome in the pathogenesis of EC. This study aims to characterize the uterine microbiome in EC patients and identify potential microbial biomarkers, with a focus on Anaerococcus as a differentiating taxon.MethodsThe endocervical canal swabs from patients with EC (n=16) and non-cancerous patients (EM, n=13) were collected. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the Illumina platform. Bioinformatic analyses were performed with QIIME2, and statistical comparisons were conducted to assess differences in microbial composition and diversity. In vitro experiments were conducted to assess the functional impact of Anaerococcus on human uterine fibroblasts, including its ability to adhere to the human cells and induce oxidative stress.ResultsThe α-diversity metrics, including Shannon entropy and observed amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), revealed significantly higher microbial diversity in EC samples compared to EM. Anaerococcus was identified as a key taxon differentiating EC from EM groups, showing a higher relative abundance in EC samples. Functional predictions and in vitro assays indicated that Anaerococcus may contribute to carcinogenesis by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and has the high ability to adhere to the human endometrial fibroblasts.DiscussionThe study provides evidence of distinct microbial signatures in EC, with Anaerococcus emerging as a potential biomarker. The in vitro findings suggest its role in endometrial carcinogenesis, underscoring its potential as a target for future diagnostic and therapeutic applications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1511625/fullendometrial cancermicrobiomeAnaerococcus vaginalis16S rRNA metagenomicsANCOM analysis |
| spellingShingle | Olga Kuźmycz Aleksandra Kowalczyk Aleksandra Bolanowska Anna Drozdzowska Jakub Lach Jakub Lach Wiktoria Wierzbińska Wiktoria Wierzbińska Tomasz Kluz Tomasz Kluz Paweł Stączek A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology endometrial cancer microbiome Anaerococcus vaginalis 16S rRNA metagenomics ANCOM analysis |
| title | A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor |
| title_full | A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor |
| title_fullStr | A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor |
| title_short | A comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients - identification of Anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor |
| title_sort | comprehensive analysis of the uterine microbiome in endometrial cancer patients identification of anaerococcus as a potential biomarker and carcinogenic cofactor |
| topic | endometrial cancer microbiome Anaerococcus vaginalis 16S rRNA metagenomics ANCOM analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1511625/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olgakuzmycz acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT aleksandrakowalczyk acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT aleksandrabolanowska acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT annadrozdzowska acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT jakublach acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT jakublach acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT wiktoriawierzbinska acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT wiktoriawierzbinska acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT tomaszkluz acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT tomaszkluz acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT pawełstaczek acomprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT olgakuzmycz comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT aleksandrakowalczyk comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT aleksandrabolanowska comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT annadrozdzowska comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT jakublach comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT jakublach comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT wiktoriawierzbinska comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT wiktoriawierzbinska comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT tomaszkluz comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT tomaszkluz comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor AT pawełstaczek comprehensiveanalysisoftheuterinemicrobiomeinendometrialcancerpatientsidentificationofanaerococcusasapotentialbiomarkerandcarcinogeniccofactor |