Sougata Rajak, Panteha Torabian, Naiera M Helmy Mohamed, Neethu Asokan, Reham Hamed Abdelaziz, Saanya Chaturvedi
An organized microbial communities encapsulated in a protective matrix are called biofilms, that have a major impact on how different types of cancer form and spread. The effect of biofilms produced by Helicobacter pylori, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Escherichia coli, and Candida spp on the development and spread of cancer is examined in this study. Because they cause cellular damage, genetic mutations, and persistent inflammation, H. pylori biofilms are strongly linked to stomach cancer, such as F. nucleatum biofilms have been connected to colorectal cancer, where they stimulate the formation of tumors by modifying the immune system and activating pathways associated to cancer. A common periodontal infection, P. gingivalis, has been linked to pancreatic and oral malignancies by increasing tumor invasiveness and facilitating immune evasion. Some of the enterotoxigenic pathovars of E. coli can cause chronic inflammation and have genotoxic effects, often are related to colorectal cancer. Moreover, Candida species, specifically Candida albicans can form biological films in the gastrointestinal and oral tracts, helping in epithelial invasion and synthesizing carcinogenic byproducts resulting in esophageal and other malignancies. Examining the mechanisms of cancer emergence and progression by biofilms can provide insights on the influence of microbes on the development of cancer. Targeting the biofilm development can provide novel approaches for the treatment regimen of cancer.