# The pathogen’s playbook in cancer: from oncogenesis to progression

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how microbes like bacteria, viruses, and fungi contribute to cancer development and progression through various mechanisms.

## Contribution

The paper categorizes microbes based on their distinct mechanisms in oncogenesis and tumor progression.

## Key findings

- Certain microbes directly induce tumorigenesis through DNA damage and oncoprotein expression.
- Other microbes modulate tumor progression by altering the tumor microenvironment and suppressing immunity.
- The review highlights clinical translation potential and challenges in precision oncology.

## Abstract

Globally, around 15–20% of cancers are linked to microbial infections, involving viruses, bacteria, and fungi, each with distinct pathogenic features. Advanced multi-omics technologies have confirmed tumor-specific microbial communities within tumor tissues. This review categorizes microbes by their action mechanisms in cancer biology: one group (e.g., Helicobacter pylori, HPV, Aspergillus species) directly induces tumorigenesis via DNA damage, repairing pathway disruption, oncoprotein expression, and carcinogenic metabolite production; the other group (e.g., Fusobacterium nucleatum, HIV, Candida albicans) modulates tumor progression by regulating the tumor microenvironment, enhancing tumor cell chemoresistance, or suppressing anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, this review also explores clinical translation potential, highlights research challenges, and proposes future directions to support precision oncology advancement.