Wang D, Zhang HL, Zhang HL, Song ZJ, Doblin S, Lu P. Microbiota and cancer: Elucidating the role of Candida albicans in cancer progression. World J Clin Oncol 2025; 16(6): 106847 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i6.106847]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ping Lu, MD, Doctor, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, No. 88 Jiankang Road, Weihui 453000, Henan Province, China. lupingdoctor@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Microbiology
Article-Type of This Article
Evidence Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Oncol. Jun 24, 2025; 16(6): 106847 Published online Jun 24, 2025. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i6.106847
Microbiota and cancer: Elucidating the role of Candida albicans in cancer progression
Di Wang, Hao-Ling Zhang, Hao-Long Zhang, Zhi-Jing Song, Sandai Doblin, Ping Lu
Di Wang, Ping Lu, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453000, Henan Province, China
Di Wang, Department of Biomedical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 13200, Malaysia
Hao-Ling Zhang, Sandai Doblin, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 13200, Malaysia
Hao-Long Zhang, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 13200, Malaysia
Zhi-Jing Song, Clinical College of Chinese Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Sandai Doblin and Ping Lu.
Author contributions: Wang D, Zhang HL and Zhang HL wrote the paper; Song ZJ, Doblin S, Lu P revised the paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ping Lu, MD, Doctor, Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, No. 88 Jiankang Road, Weihui 453000, Henan Province, China. lupingdoctor@163.com
Received: March 9, 2025 Revised: April 9, 2025 Accepted: May 21, 2025 Published online: June 24, 2025 Processing time: 103 Days and 13.5 Hours
Abstract
Candida albicans (C. albicans) represents one of the most prevalent opportunistic fungal pathogens in cancer patients. Although the association between C. albicans and cancer has been recognized for decades, the causal relationship, whether C. albicans infection is a consequence of cancer or a direct contributor to cancer development-remains a subject of intensive investigation. Recently, the complex interplay between microbes and cancer has garnered significant attention within the scientific community, with growing interest in elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. This review systematically examines the biological characteristics of C. albicans, its multifaceted interactions with the host, and its relationship with the intestinal microbiota. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the association between C. albicans and the development of various malignancies, with particular emphasis on digestive tract cancers. The review also identifies critical knowledge gaps and apparent contradictions in existing research, highlighting potential avenues for breakthroughs that will advance the efficient and accurate screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
Core Tip: This review explores the role of Candida albicans (C. albicans), an opportunistic fungus, in cancer progression, particularly in digestive tract malignancies. It examines the interactions between C. albicans and the host, highlighting its relationship with the intestinal microbiota. The study also addresses the ongoing debate about whether C. albicans contributes to cancer development or is merely a complication of cancer. By identifying gaps in current research, this review seeks to open new directions for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
