Journal
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
Volume 11, Issue 6, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060546
Keywords
female reproductive tract microbiome; upper reproductive tract microbiome; vaginal microbiome; uterine microbiome; gynecologic cancer; endometrial cancer; ovarian cancer
Funding
- Norma C. and Albert I. Geller Designated Professorship in Ovarian Cancer Research
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Recent studies have shown the existence of a microbiome in the upper female reproductive tract, previously assumed to be sterile under non-pathologic conditions. While the vaginal microbiome and its impact on reproductive health have been extensively studied, research on the microbiome of the upper female reproductive tract in gynecologic cancers is limited.
The microbial colonization of the lower female reproductive tract has been extensively studied over the past few decades. In contrast, the upper female reproductive tract including the uterine cavity and peritoneum where the ovaries and fallopian tubes reside were traditionally assumed to be sterile under non-pathologic conditions. However, recent studies applying next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene have provided convincing evidence for the existence of an upper female reproductive tract microbiome. While the vaginal microbiome and its importance for reproductive health outcomes has been extensively studied, the microbiome of the upper female reproductive tract and its relevance for gynecologic cancers has been less studied and will be the focus of this article. This targeted review summarizes the pertinent literature on the female reproductive tract microbiome in gynecologic malignancies and its anticipated role in future research and clinical applications in personalized medicine.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available