Background/Objectives: Several independent studies have associated prostate cancer (PCa) with specific groups of bacteria, most of them reporting the presence of anaerobic or microaerophilic species such asCutibacterium acnes(C. acnes). Such findings suggest a prostate cancer-related bacterial dysbiosis, in a manner similar to the association betweenHelicobacter pyloriinfection and gastric cancer. In an earlier exploratory study looking for such dysbiosis events, using a culturomics approach, we discovered that the presence of obligate anaerobes (OAs) along withC. acneswas associated with increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in 39 participants. Methods: Building on this, in this study, we analyzed 89 post-rectal examination urine samples, from men with prostate cancer attending the PROVENT trial, using 16S rDNA sequencing. Our investigation focused on the impact of six previously identified OA genera (Finegoldia,Fusobacterium,Prevotella,Peptoniphilus_A,Peptostreptococcus, andVeillonella_A) on PSA levels. However, an additional data-driven approach was followed to uncover more taxa linked to increased PSA. Results: Our analysis revealed a statistically significant association betweenPeptostreptococcusand elevated PSA levels. Additionally, there were potential interactions betweenPrevotellaandFusobacterium. Interestingly, we also found that an aerobe,Ochrobactrum_A,was significantly linked to higher PSA levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that OA-related dysbiosis may contribute to elevated PSA levels through prostate cell damage even before prostate cancer develops, possibly playing a role in chronic inflammation and the hypervascular changes seen in precancerous lesions. Future clinical trials with larger cohorts are needed to further evaluate the role of OA in prostate cancer development and progression.
背景/目的：多项独立研究已将前列腺癌（PCa）与特定细菌群相关联，其中多数报告了厌氧或微需氧菌种的存在，如痤疮丙酸杆菌（C. acnes）。这些发现提示前列腺癌相关的细菌菌群失调，其机制类似于幽门螺杆菌感染与胃癌的关联。在早期一项探索此类菌群失调事件的研究中，我们采用培养组学方法发现，在39名参与者中，严格厌氧菌（OAs）与痤疮丙酸杆菌共存与前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）水平升高相关。方法：基于此，本研究通过16S rDNA测序技术，分析了来自参加PROVENT试验的前列腺癌患者的89份直肠指检后尿液样本。我们重点研究了先前发现的六个OA菌属（费氏球菌属、梭杆菌属、普雷沃菌属、消化链球菌属_A、消化球菌属和韦荣球菌属_A）对PSA水平的影响，同时采用数据驱动方法进一步挖掘与PSA升高相关的其他类群。结果：分析显示消化球菌属与PSA升高存在统计学显著关联。此外，普雷沃菌属与梭杆菌属可能存在相互作用。值得注意的是，我们还发现需氧菌苍白杆菌属_A与较高的PSA水平显著相关。结论：这些发现表明，OA相关菌群失调可能通过损伤前列腺细胞导致PSA水平升高，甚至在癌症发生前就可能在慢性炎症及癌前病变的血管增生改变中发挥作用。未来需要更大规模的临床试验进一步评估OA在前列腺癌发生发展中的作用。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家