Role of microbiome and its metabolite, short chain fatty acid in prostate cancer

The microbiome which is an assembly of all microbes living inside our bodies performs a major role in maintaining human health and wellness. It has been found that the imbalance of the microbiome can cause various diseases in humans. Similarly, there is growing evidence that the microbiome largely affects a person’s chance of contracting certain cancers and how the disease develops and progresses. Studies have shown that about 15% to 20% of all cancers are caused by microbial pathogens. The prevalence of prostate cancer, which is increasing rapidly in Korea, is related to lifestyle including diet. These diets can alter the gut microbial composition, and the effect of the microbiome on prostate cancer development can be estimated. However, the microbiome associated with prostate cancer has been reported differently according to race. This means that the metabolite rather than the specific microbiome will be important. Short chain fatty acids, metabolites of the microbiome, plays an important role in the action mechanism of the microbiome. Short chain fatty acids play roles such as immunomodulation and inhibition of histone deacetylase. Here, we examined the most up-to-date literature featuring the effects of the microbiome on the risk and pathogenesis of prostate cancer.