REVIEW article
Front. Microbiomes
Sec. Host and Microbe Associations
This article is part of the Research TopicThe Microbiome in Cancer Therapy ResponseView all 7 articles
Understanding the role of oral and vaginal microbiomes in HPV-related cervical, head, and neck cancers: Knowledge gaps and feasibility in Sub-Saharan Africa
Provisionally accepted
Hélène Eya KAMASSA1,2
Gnatoulma KATAWA1
Abiola Isawumi2Charles Olwal2Winfried Seth Gbewonyo2
Peter Kojo Quashie2*Yaw Bediako2,3- 1UR2IM, Lome, Togo
- 2West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- 3Yemachii Biotech, Accra, Ghana
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Microbiome dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance in the composition of microbial communities, has emerged as a potential risk factor for the development of cervical, head, and neck cancers. While previous studies have predominantly focused on high-income countries, there is a significant gap in understanding the relationship between microbiome alterations and cancer development in sub-Saharan Africa. Considering the unique socio-economic and environmental factors in this region, investigating the role of vaginal and oral microbiota in the progression of these cancers is crucial. This review explores the involvement of microbial dysbiosis in cervical, head, and neck cancers, particularly how it influences Human Papillomavirus-driven immune evasion, and highlights the importance of microbiota profiling in sub-Saharan Africa. The implications of these insights for cancer prevention and treatment strategies in this population are also discussed.
Keywords: Microbiome dysbiosis, vaginal microbiota, Oral microbiota, HPV, immuneevasion, Cervical /Head and Neck cancers, sub-Saharan Africa
Received: 10 Mar 2025; Accepted: 17 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 KAMASSA, KATAWA, Isawumi, Olwal, Gbewonyo, Quashie and Bediako. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Peter Kojo Quashie, pquashie@ug.edu.gh
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