Gut microbiota in brain tumors: An emerging crucial player

In recent decades, various roles of the gut microbiota in physiological and pathological conditions have been uncovered. Among the many interacting pathways between the host and gut flora, the gut-brain axis has drawn increasing attention and is generally considered a promising way to understand and treat brain tumors, one of the most lethal neoplasms. In this narrative review, we aimed to unveil and dissect the sophisticated mechanisms by which the gut-brain axis exerts its influence on brain tumors. Furthermore, we summarized the latest research regarding the gastrointestinal microbial landscape and the effect of gut-brain axis malfunction on different brain tumors. Finally, we outlined the ongoing developing approaches of microbial manipulation and their corresponding research related to neuro-malignancies. Collectively, we recapitulated the advances in gut microbial alterations along with their potential interactive mechanisms in brain tumors and encouraged increased efforts in this area.

Automated summary

In recent decades, the gut microbiota has been found to play various roles in physiological and pathological conditions. The gut-brain axis, as one of the interacting pathways between the host and gut flora, has gained increasing attention for its potential in understanding and treating brain tumors. This narrative review explores the mechanisms by which the gut-brain axis influences brain tumors, summarizes the latest research on gastrointestinal microbial landscape and gut-brain axis malfunction in different brain tumors, and outlines the ongoing approaches of microbial manipulation and research on neuro-malignancies.