Microbiome in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly malignant disease that is difficult to detect early with low efficacy of available treatments, underscoring a need for novel areas of research for identification of early biomarkers and treatment modalities. A relationship between pancreatic tumorigenesis and the human microbiome, the community of micro-organisms and their genomes that inhabit the human body, has been highlighted recently. Oral and gut microbial signatures associated with pancreatic disease-specific stages and distinctive microbes within premalignant pancreatic cystic lesions and tumors have been described. Strategies that can modulate the dysbiotic microbiome can lead to tumor immunomodulation and therapeutic responses. In this chapter, we discuss the potential of microbiome-based biomarkers for early detection of disease, the underlying mechanisms and ongoing clinical studies involving microbial based approaches during cancer.