2875 - Intratumoral Microbiome in Cervical Cancer: Associations with Treatment Response via RNA Sequencing
Presenter(s)
Q. Wen1,2, Y. Li2, S. Wang1,2, Y. Min1,2, M. Chen2, and J. Lang1,2; 1School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Purpose/Objective(s): Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. While tumor genetics and immune response have been extensively studied, the role of the microbiome in treatment outcomes remains underexplored. RNA sequencing provides a unique opportunity to investigate microbial gene expression in tumor tissues, which could offer new insights into the relationship between microbiome characteristics and cervical cancer prognosis. We examined microbiome-related gene expression patterns in cervical cancer tissue and explore their potential association with treatment response.
Materials/Methods: We obtained pre-treatment tumor samples from 36 patients with cervical cancer stage IIB–IIIB who received concomitant chemoradiotherapy and brachytherapy. RNA sequencing was employed to evaluate the tumoral microbiota. One month following the conclusion of treatment, the tumor response was evaluated using RECIST 1.1.
Results: After treatment, 28 (78%) patients achieved complete remission (CR), and 8 (22%) patients achieved partial remission (PR) or stable disease (SD). Preliminary results show distinct microbial gene expression patterns between the CR and PR/SD groups. Key microbial genes involved in immune modulation and metabolic pathways were differentially expressed, with certain microbial functions correlating with immune suppression and tumor progression. Notably, higher expression of immune regulatory genes, such as cytokines and immune checkpoint molecules, was observed in samples from patients in PR/SD group, suggesting a possible role for the microbiome in immune evasion. Additionally, specific microbial species and their functional genes may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting patient outcomes.
Conclusion: The role of microbiome-associated gene expression in treatment response provides new insights and is a promising prognostic biomarker. Understanding the impact of the microbiome on immune regulation and treatment efficacy may provide more personalized treatment strategies for patients with cervical cancer.