Title:Understanding Bacterial Roles in Cancer Chemo-resistance: A
Signaling Pathway Mapping Study
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Author(s): Raushan Kumar Chaudhary, Allen Pinto, Vineeth Mascarenhas, Ashwath Kampa Saliyan, Deepthi Avvaru, Anjana Babu and Uday Venkat Mateti*
Affiliation:
- NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NGSMIPS), Nitte (Deemed to be University), Mangalore,
575018, India
Keywords:
Antineoplastic agents, bacteria, cancer, chemoresistance, signaling pathways, chemotherapy.
Abstract:
Introduction: Chemoresistance is one of the leading causes of chemotherapy
failure among cancer patients. Out of several hypotheses proposed for chemoresistance,
bacteria-mediated chemoresistance to cancer drugs has not been well established. Thus,
the aim of this review is to map the pathways by which bacteria exhibit chemoresistance
in specific cancers.
Material and Methods: Relevant articles on bacteria-mediated chemoresistance in cancer
were retrieved by conducting a systematic search across PubMed, Scopus and Web of
Science databases. The search was limited to English original articles published until 15th
December 2023.
Results: A total of nine articles were included to map the pathways involved in chemoresistance.
Numerous pathways have been connected to various forms of cancer, such as
autophagy pathway in colorectal and esophageal cancers by Fusobacterium nucleatum
causing oxaliplatin and 5-FU resistance; DNA damage response pathway also by Fusobacterium
nucleatum promoting CDDP resistance in esophageal cancer; Porphyromonas
gingivalis led to oral and esophageal cancer resistance to paclitaxel via JAK/STAT pathway.
NF-κB pathway involved in gastric cancer in the presence of Helicobacter pylori
towards cisplatin, and also 5-FU resistance via the apoptotic pathway. Cellular metabolism
modulation by Lactobacillus iners was also implicated in cervical cancer chemoresistance.
Conclusion: We conclude that bacteria can mediate chemoresistance not merely to antibiotics
but also to anticancer drugs. Thus, a detailed understanding of the pathways associated
with chemoresistance mediated via bacteria might help in targeting these pathways
or antibiotics to prevent bacterial growth could help overcome resistance.
