Vaginal Microbiome Shifts in Cervical Carcinogenesis Stages

Abstract Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a critical factor in cervical dysplasia and cancer. Recent studies have linked vaginal microbiota composition to cervical neoplastic progression. We analyzed 109 vaginal swab samples from women diagnosed cytologically as normal, reactive changes, LSIL, HSIL, or cancer. Bacterial species were identified using 16s rRNA sequencing and data were assessed for alpha and beta diversity. Results indicated that alpha diversity of the vaginal microbiome was significantly increased in the cancer and HSIL groups. Beta diversity showed significant differences between normal and LSIL, as well as normal and HSIL groups. Notably, Prevotella timonensis abundance was markedly higher in cancer and HSIL. These findings suggest that greater vaginal microbiota diversity and the expansion of specific bacterial species, such as Prevotella timonensis, are associated with advanced stages of cervical carcinogenesis.