Mycology in Oncology: Exploring the Role of the Mycobiome in Human Cancer, Etiology, Progression, Epidemiology, Mycoses, and Mycotoxins

The interplay between the human mycobiome and oncogenesis repreesents an emerging field of study with profound implications for understanding cancer pathogenesis. Historically, the focus on the cancer microbiome has predominantly centered on viral and bacterial dysbiosis. Recent research has pivoted toward the influential role of the mycobiome in tumor initiation, growth, and progression. Fungi not only exacerbate cancer by causing infections in immuno-compromised individuals with solid tumors and leukemia but also pose significant clinical challenges due to the severe complications they induce in these patients. Compounding this is the production of mycotoxins, secondary metabolites produced by a variety of filamentous fungi and known to cause human cancer and even mortality. This review aims to shed light on the complex role the mycobiome plays in oncogenesis with a focus on molecular mycology, the epidemiology of fungal infections, and the environmental origins of mycological agents linked to cancer. It also addresses the invasive mycoses in cancer patients and the deleterious impacts of toxic fungal compounds on human health. The synthesis of current findings spotlights the critical need for heightened awareness and advanced research in the interface of mycology and oncology, which may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes.