مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Fungal microbiome in colorectal cancer: a systematic review
Fungal microbiome in colorectal cancer: a systematic review
Asal Arshadi mianji,1,*
1. Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Yazd Branch, Yazd, Iran.
Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is recognized as one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In recent years, numerous studies have investigated the role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis and progression of CRC. While most of this research has focused on bacteria, growing evidence suggests that intestinal fungi—the mycobiome—may also play a significant role. This systematic review aimed to explore the role of the mycobiome in colorectal cancer, its impact on disease pathology, and the potential of fungi as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Methods: This study was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched to identify relevant studies. Keywords included “colorectal cancer,” “fungal microbiome,” “mycobiota,” “biomarker,” “therapy target,” and their equivalents. The search covered publications from January 2020 to April 2025. Studies were included if they examined the mycobiome in CRC patients and reported associations with pathology or treatment response. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Results: Findings indicated notable alterations in the diversity and composition of the mycobiome in CRC patients compared to healthy individuals. In particular, increased abundance of Candida albicans and Malassezia species, along with a reduction in protective species such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were consistently reported. These changes were associated with pathological features such as enhanced local inflammation, altered mucosal immunity, and tumor progression. Preliminary evidence also supports the potential use of mycobiome patterns as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Several studies further evaluated the mycobiome as a target for therapeutic interventions, including fungal probiotics and antifungal agents.
Conclusion: The intestinal mycobiome plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer and may represent a promising target for early diagnosis and treatment. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings and to develop mycobiome-based interventions.