Oesophageal cancer is associated with distinct oral, faecal, and blood microbiome signatures

Abstract This cross-sectional study aimed to identify differences in oral, faecal, blood microbial profiles in oesophageal cancer, and their association with periodontal diseases. Microbiome profiling was performed using 16S rRNA sequencing of saliva, faecal and blood samples obtained from 44 esophageal cancer patients and 126 healthy controls. The oral microbiome of oesophageal cancer patients demonstrated a distinct composition with increased phylogenetic diversity. Specifically, patients exhibited higher abundances of Tannerella , Streptococcus , and Filifactor , and lower abundances of Oribacterium , Granulicatella , and Subdoligranulum . Following adjustment for periodontal disease, age, sex, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, the relative abundances of Filifactor and Tannerella remained increased in the saliva of oesophageal cancer patients. In the faecal microbiome, patients exhibited increased abundances of Lactobacillus , Veillonella , and Dialister and decreased abundances of Neisseria , Weissella , and Akkermansia . Conversely, the blood microbiome exhibited increased phylogenetic diversity with higher abundances of Helicobacter , Acetobacter , and Lactobacillus and decreased abundances of Tannerella , Parvimonas , and Akkermansia . A significant negative correlation was observed between oral and blood microbiomes for several taxa, including Streptococcus and Veillonella . In conclusion, oesophageal cancer is associated with distinct oral, faecal, and blood microbiome signatures. Oral bacteria such as Filifactor and Tannerella are associated with oesophageal cancer, independent of periodontal disease.