Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors

The microbiome-gut-testis axis has emerged as a significant area of interest in understanding testicular cancer, particularly testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), which represent the most common malignancy in young men. The interplay between the gut and testicular microbiomes is hypothesized to infl...

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Main Authors: Sona Ciernikova, Aneta Sevcikova, Michal Mego
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1529871/full
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author Sona Ciernikova
Aneta Sevcikova
Michal Mego
author_facet Sona Ciernikova
Aneta Sevcikova
Michal Mego
author_sort Sona Ciernikova
collection DOAJ
description The microbiome-gut-testis axis has emerged as a significant area of interest in understanding testicular cancer, particularly testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), which represent the most common malignancy in young men. The interplay between the gut and testicular microbiomes is hypothesized to influence tumorigenesis and reproductive health, underscoring the complex role of microbial ecosystems in disease pathology. The microbiome-gut-testis axis encompasses complex interactions between the gut microbiome, systemic immune modulation, and the local microenvironment of the testis. Dysbiosis in the gut or testicular microbiomes may contribute to altered immune responses, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances, potentially playing a role in the pathogenesis of TGCTs. Concurrently, seminal microbiomes have been linked to variations in sperm quality, fertility potential, and possibly cancer susceptibility, underscoring the need for further evaluation. This review explores the emerging role of the microbiome-gut-testis axis in the context of testicular cancer, highlighting its implications for disease onset, progression, treatment efficacy, and toxicity. Identifying potential microbial biomarkers, followed by microbiota modulation to restore a balanced microbial community, might offer a novel supportive strategy for improving treatment efficacy in refractory TGCT patients while reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicity. We suggest a better understanding of the association between dysregulated microbial environments and TGCTs emphasizes potential pathways by which the gut microbiome might influence testicular cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-73ee0a7b4677402aa151d188dfc9572b2025-01-09T06:10:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-01-011410.3389/fcimb.2024.15298711529871Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumorsSona Ciernikova0Aneta Sevcikova1Michal Mego2Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava and National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, SlovakiaThe microbiome-gut-testis axis has emerged as a significant area of interest in understanding testicular cancer, particularly testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), which represent the most common malignancy in young men. The interplay between the gut and testicular microbiomes is hypothesized to influence tumorigenesis and reproductive health, underscoring the complex role of microbial ecosystems in disease pathology. The microbiome-gut-testis axis encompasses complex interactions between the gut microbiome, systemic immune modulation, and the local microenvironment of the testis. Dysbiosis in the gut or testicular microbiomes may contribute to altered immune responses, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances, potentially playing a role in the pathogenesis of TGCTs. Concurrently, seminal microbiomes have been linked to variations in sperm quality, fertility potential, and possibly cancer susceptibility, underscoring the need for further evaluation. This review explores the emerging role of the microbiome-gut-testis axis in the context of testicular cancer, highlighting its implications for disease onset, progression, treatment efficacy, and toxicity. Identifying potential microbial biomarkers, followed by microbiota modulation to restore a balanced microbial community, might offer a novel supportive strategy for improving treatment efficacy in refractory TGCT patients while reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicity. We suggest a better understanding of the association between dysregulated microbial environments and TGCTs emphasizes potential pathways by which the gut microbiome might influence testicular cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1529871/fullthe gut microbiometesticular germ cell tumorsmicrobiome-gut-testis axistesticular and seminal microbiometreatment efficacy
spellingShingle Sona Ciernikova
Aneta Sevcikova
Michal Mego
Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
the gut microbiome
testicular germ cell tumors
microbiome-gut-testis axis
testicular and seminal microbiome
treatment efficacy
title Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors
title_full Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors
title_fullStr Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors
title_short Exploring the microbiome-gut-testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors
title_sort exploring the microbiome gut testis axis in testicular germ cell tumors
topic the gut microbiome
testicular germ cell tumors
microbiome-gut-testis axis
testicular and seminal microbiome
treatment efficacy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1529871/full
work_keys_str_mv AT sonaciernikova exploringthemicrobiomeguttestisaxisintesticulargermcelltumors
AT anetasevcikova exploringthemicrobiomeguttestisaxisintesticulargermcelltumors
AT michalmego exploringthemicrobiomeguttestisaxisintesticulargermcelltumors