Endometrial cancer and the microbiome – Review

Manole COJOCARU
Department of Physiology and Immunology, “Titu Maiorescu” University, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

Incidence rates for endometrial cancer (EC) are rising, particularly in postmenopausal and obese women. Low levels of gonadal circulating estrogen observed in post-menopausal women can adversely impact a diverse range of physiological factors, with clinical impli- cations for brain cognition, gut health, the female reproductive tract and other aspects of women’s health. Endometrial microbiota interplay in the uterus.

Several studies demonstrated that asymptomatic women harbour commensal microbial communities in their uterus, and that the uterine microbiome seems to be altered in women who suffer gynaecological pathologies such EC.

We need larger studies to further confirm an association of certain microorganisms in women with EC compared to our healthy women in our office. However, there are large gaps in knowledge regarding the association between the gut microbiome and gynecologic

cancers, and research characterizing the reproductive tract microbiome is insufficient.

This review aims to shed light on the role of the gut microbiota in estrogen-modulated disease, the bi-directional relationship between the metabolic profile (including estrogen levels) and gut microbiota in estrogen-driven disease will also be discussed.

Keywords:

microbiome, endometrial microbiota, endometrial cancer, vagino-uterine microbiome