The role of the microbiome in uterine cancer - insights into tumorigenesis, therapeutic implications, and clinical prospects

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Jasmine

Malignant tumors of the uterine cavity are a major cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Growing focus on the tumor microenvironment highlights how microbial communities in cervical and endometrial cancers relate to tumor initiation, immune evasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. This review synthesizes evidence on epidemiology and microenvironment features, explains key mechanisms such as immune modulation and metabolic changes, and evaluates prospects for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and microbial markers for diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Epidemiology of malignant tumors of the uterine cavity

Emerging concepts in the tumor microenvironment

Abstract

Microbial communities and cancer mechanisms

Therapeutic implications and clinical prospects

Zhang et al. Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute (2026) 38:32 [https://doi.org/10.1186/s43046-026-00372-9](https://doi.org/10.1186/s43046-026-00372-9) Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute REVIEW Open Access The role of the microbiome in uterine cancer: insights into tumorigenesis, therapeutic implications, and clinical prospects Yating Zhang1†, Xiaochuan Yu2†, Li Shi1, Chen Qi1 and Huali Wang2* Abstract Malignant tumors of the uterine cavity are a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. In recent years, the tumor microenvironment, as a novel biological concept, has garnered increasing attention. The microenvironment plays a crucial role in the initiation, progression, and response to treatment of tumors. Although research on the microenvironment of malignant uterine tumors is in its early stages, preliminary findings suggest that alterations in the microbial communities of cervical and endometrial cancers are closely associated with tumorigenesis, immune evasion, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Notably, specific microbial community changes have potential diagnostic and prognostic implications, offering novel insights into the management of these cancers. This review aims to summarize and analyze the current state of research on the microenvironment of malignant uterine tumors, particularly its role in cervical and endometrial cancers. We first overview the epidemiological landscape and microenvironmental features of these tumors, emphasizing how microbial communities influence tumor initiation and progression. This influence occurs through immune modulation, metabolic changes, and alterations within the tumor microenvironment. Second, the potential role of the microenvironment in tumor therapy is explored, particularly its application prospects in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. In addition, the application potential of microbial communities in early tumor diagnosis, efficacy monitoring, and prognosis assessment is discussed. Keywords Malignant tumors ofthe uterine cavity, Tumor microenvironment, Immune regulation, Early diagnosis, Prognosis assessment †Yating Zhang and Xiaochuan Yu contributed equally to this work. *Correspondence: Huali Wang [wanghl_dl@126.com](wanghl_dl@126.com) 1Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China 2Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Center (Group), Dalian, China © The Author(s) 2026. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.)[.](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.) Zhang et al. Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute (2026) 38:32 Page 2 of 8 Introduction Epidemiology of malignant tumors ofthe uterine cavity Malignant tumors of the uterine cavity remain a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. According to the latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), the global incidence of cervical cancer in 2022 was approximately 660,000 cases, with an incidence rate of 14.12 per 100,000, making it the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Closely trailing cervical cancer is endometrial cancer,

FAQs

How does the tumor microenvironment relate to uterine cancer development and treatment response?

The microenvironment plays a crucial role in initiation, progression, and response to treatment. In cervical and endometrial cancers, microbial community alterations are linked to tumorigenesis, immune evasion, metastasis, and treatment resistance.

Which cervical and endometrial aspects does the review focus on?

The review summarizes research on the microenvironment of malignant uterine tumors, with emphasis on cervical and endometrial cancers. It outlines epidemiology, microenvironmental features, and how microbial communities influence tumor initiation and progression.

What therapeutic and clinical applications are discussed for the microbiome and microenvironment?

The review explores the microenvironment’s role in tumor therapy, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. It also discusses potential uses of microbial communities for early diagnosis, efficacy monitoring, and prognosis assessment.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Jasmine