The Microbiome and Genitourinary Cancer

A microbiome (from Ancient Greekμικρός (mikrós) 'small', and βίος(bíos) 'life') is a group of microorganisms that can usually be found living together in any given habitat. The gut microbiome, as defined by molecular biologist Joshua Lederberg, is the whole of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi, and their collective genetic material present in the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT). Studies showed the differences in food and nutrient consumption to characterize the relationship between diet and microbes. Data serves as an initial point and documents that overweight and obese men with prostate cancer may manifest a unique microbiome profile. Further investigation is warranted to determine if the touch of prostate cancer exists, whether it is causative, and if it can be manipulated with diet and exercise to serve in efforts aimed toward cancer prevention and control [1]. Given the physiological function and anatomical position of the prostate gland, studies on the genitourinary tract microbiota are of major significance in the research of Prostate Carcinoma (PCa) [2]. Despite the overall present speculations on the possible association between genitourinary tract microbiome and PCa, very few trials have been conducted to date on this topic. One anatomical place is the genitourinary tract. It has been proven that the human genitourinary tract contains a variety of resident microbial communities, hence disapproving of the traditional view of urine being sterile. The presence of shared species in the urinary tract and those found in microbial populations of the gastrointestinal tract, vagina, or even skin was well defined. Nevertheless, some recent studies have suggested that the urinary tract contains microbial populations that are different from those at other sites of the human body that are populated by microbiomes.