Association between vaginal microbiota and the progression of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancers, especially high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), are one of the most lethal age-independent gynecologic malignancies. Although pathogenic microorganisms have been demonstrated to participate in the pathogenesis of multiple types of tumors, their potential roles in the development of ovarian cancer remain unclear. To gain an insight into the microbiome-associated pathogenesis of ovarian cancer and identify potential diagnostic biomarkers, we applied different techniques to analyse the microbiome and serum metabolome of different resources. We found that the vaginal microbiota in ovarian cancer mouse models was under dysbiosis, with altered metabolite configurations that may result from amino acid or lysophospholipid metabolic processes. Local therapeutic intervention with a broad spectrum of antibiotics was effective in reversing microbiota dysbiosis and suppressing carcinogenic progression. As the ovary is situated deeply in the pelvis, it is difficult to directly monitor the ovarian microbial community. Our findings provide alternative options for utilizing the vaginal bacteria as noninvasive biomarkers, such as Burkholderia (area under the curve = 0.8843, 95% confidence interval: 0.743-1.000), which supplement the current invasive diagnostic methods for monitoring ovarian cancer progression and contribute to the development of advanced microbe-based diagnosis and adjuvant therapies.

Automated summary

Ovarian cancer, particularly high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), is a highly lethal gynecologic malignancy. The potential roles of pathogenic microorganisms in ovarian cancer development are still unclear. Through analyzing the microbiome and serum metabolome, we discovered dysbiosis in the vaginal microbiota of ovarian cancer mouse models, along with altered metabolite configurations. Broad-spectrum antibiotics effectively reversed microbiota dysbiosis and suppressed carcinogenic progression. The findings suggest the potential use of vaginal bacteria as noninvasive biomarkers for monitoring ovarian cancer progression and for developing advanced microbe-based diagnosis and adjuvant therapies.