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Table 2 Potential diagnostic biomarkers of pancreatic cancer

From: Microbiome as a biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer

Biomarker

Site

Proposed Mechanisms

Effects

Ref.

phylum and genus Verrucomicrobia, Deferribacteres, and Bacteroidetes

Blood microbial extracellular vesicles

Akkermansia (in Verrucomicrobia phylum) is an immune modulator related to the programmed cell death protein 1 blockade pathway

Higher in PC patients compared to HC

[82]

Genus Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Turicibacter, Akkermansia, Ruminiclostridium

Blood microbial extracellular vesicles

Akkermansia is an immune modulator related to the programmed cell death protein 1 blockade pathway

Higher in PC patients compared to HC

[82]

phyllum and genus Acintobacter

Blood microbial extracellular vesicles

Actinobacteria are known to produce butyrate and modulate immune function

Less abundant in PC patients compared to HC

[82]

Genus Stenotrophomonas, Propionibacterium, Sphingomonas and Corynebacterium

Blood microbial extracellular vesicles

May lead to an increased amount of acute phase inflammatory cytokines which might pave the way for cancer

Less abundant in PC patients compared to HC

[82]

Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria

Oral cavity and gut

NA

Significant increase in Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria in the gut of PC patients, while a significant decrease in oral Proteobacteria was observed.

[83]

Gammaproteobacteria

Oral cavity and gut

NA

Decreased oral/gut ratio in PC patients compared to healthy controls, which is indicative of early tumorigenesis

[83]

Proteobacteria

Pancreas tissue

NA

Significant increase in PC tissues compared to duodenum and stomach tissues

[85]

Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria

Pancreas tissue

NA

Significant decrease in PC tissues compared to duodenum and stomach tissues

[85]

N. elongata and S. mitis

Oral cavity

S. mitis plays a protective role against the adhesion of cariogenic bacteria

Significant reductions in PC patients

[87]

G. adiacens

Oral cavity

associated with systemic inflammations

Significantly higher in PC patients

[87]

S. mitis

Oral cavity

The proliferation of periodontal pathogens leads to systemic inflammation and cancer progression

No difference in levels between saliva samples of PC patients and healthy individuals

[88]

Streptococcus

Gut

NA

More abundant in PC patients, especially in liver metastasis

[89]

Porphyromonas gingivalis

Oral cavity/Plasma (antibodies)

elevated levels of antibodies to oral bacteria serve as a marker for a genetically stronger immune response, providing protection against carcinogenesis

Elevated anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis antibody beneficial for cancer prevention

[90]

Hepatitis B virus

Liver

Chronic inflammation leading to malignant transformation, HBV DNA integration disrupting tumor suppressing gens

Impact on PC development in Asia and Oceania, but inconsequential in Europe

[97]

Streptococcus and Veillonella

Gut

Induce interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-a reactions in dendritic cells

Abundance in PDAC patients

[36]

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii

Gut

Short-chain fatty acids regulate intestinal immune functions through cell surface G-protein coupled receptors, and their decrease leads to inflammation

Reduced numbers in PDAC patients

[36]

Faecalibacterium, Parvimonas, Alistipes, and Anaerostipes

Gut

Less suppression of proinflammatory and promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokines

Decrease in PDAC patients

[109]

Anaerotruncus, Pseudonocardia, Mucispirillum, and Cloacibacterium

Gut

NA

Increased PDAC patients

[109]