HPV-related anal cancer is associated with changes in the anorectal microbiome during cancer development

Abstract

Although alpha diversity was similar between HR Normal, dysplasia and cancer patients, composition differed significantly between the three groups. Increased anorectal <i>Peptoniphilus, Fusobacteria</i>, <i>Porphyromonas</i>, and <i>Prevotella</i> abundance were associated with anal cancer. These organisms have been reported in various gastrointestinal cancers with roles in facilitating the proinflammatory microenvironment and neoplasia progression. Future work should investigate a potential role of microbiome analysis in screening for anal dysplasia and investigation into potential mechanisms of how these microbial imbalances influence the immune system and anal carcinogenesis.