Accumulating evidence underscores the pivotal role of microbiomes in the development and progression of various tumors, including those of the genitourinary system. Due to the anatomical and functional interplay between the genitourinary tract and the surrounding microbiota—including gut microbes, urinary tract-colonizing organisms, and intratumoral microorganisms—there is increasing recognition that these microbial communities can significantly influence tumor biology. Both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects of microbial pathogens have been observed, suggesting their functions may vary across different disease stages and microenvironmental contexts. Moreover, a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, may contribute to these intricate regulatory networks, though many interactions remain poorly understood. Of particular clinical relevance, microorganisms may modulate the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, thereby shaping the tumor microenvironment and influencing patient outcomes. Recent advances in microbiota-based therapeutic strategies, such as engineered bacteria and oncolytic viruses, highlight the potential of harnessing the microbiome to improve treatment for genitourinary tumors.
This Research Topic aims to deepen scientific understanding of how microorganisms regulate the pathogenesis and therapeutic response of genitourinary tumors. It encourages contributions that explore microbe–tumor interactions using genomic sequencing, metabolomic profiling, in vitro and in vivo modeling, and clinical cohort analyses. The ultimate goal is to integrate basic, translational, and clinical insights to identify microbial biomarkers for prognosis and develop microbiota-targeted interventions. Moreover, this Research Topic seeks to clarify how microbial diversity, composition, and functional potential shape disease outcomes and influence immunotherapy and chemotherapy responses. By bridging mechanistic studies with clinical applications, it aims to foster innovative strategies that exploit microbial ecosystems to improve genitourinary cancer management.
To gather further insights into the complex interplay between microorganisms and genitourinary cancers, we welcome articles that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- Mechanisms by which microbiota contribute to the initiation, progression, and metastasis of genitourinary tumors - Interactions between microbial communities and host immunity in the tumor microenvironment - Microbiome modulation and its impact on chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy outcomes - Microbial biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response prediction in genitourinary cancers - Development and clinical evaluation of microbiota-based therapeutic strategies, including engineered bacteria, probiotics, and oncolytic viruses - Multi-omics and bioinformatics approaches for characterizing tumor-associated microbiomes in genitourinary malignancies
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
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Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
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Original Research
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Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
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