Exploring the gut microbiome’s influence on cancer-associated anemia: Mechanisms, clinical challenges, and innovative therapies

Table 3 Comparative analysis of anemia prevalence and severity across different cancer types with microbiome involvement

Cancer type	Prevalence	Microbiome involvement
Hematologic	50%-90%	Gut microbiome alteration causes inflammation and nutrient malabsorption
Gastrointestinal	40%-80%	Gut dysbiosis reduces iron absorption, increases iron sequestration by macrophages due to elevation in hepcidin levels
Gynecological	30%-70%	Microbiome disruption impacts estrogen metabolism, inciting a dysregulated immune response and increased gut permeability
Genitourinary	30%-60%	Chronic inflammation and immune activation affect erythropoiesis; renal dysfunction impacts erythropoietin production; altered microbiome composition influences systemic inflammation
Lung cancer	40%-70%	Systemic inflammation leads to anemia of chronic disease; chemotherapy and radiation induce gut microbiome changes, exacerbating inflammation and iron dysregulation
Breast cancer	25%-50%	Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy impact gut microbiota, leading to malabsorption of iron and vitamins; systemic inflammation contributes to anemia