Numerous associations have been identified between cancer and the composition and function of the human microbiome. As cancer remains the second leading global cause of mortality, investigating the carcinogenic contributions of microbiome members could advance our understanding of cancer risk and support potential therapeutic interventions. Although fluctuations in bacterial species have been associated with cancer progression, studying their small molecule metabolites offers one avenue to establish support for causal relationships and the molecular mechanisms governing host–microorganism interactions. In this Review, we explore the expanding repertoire of small molecule metabolites and their mechanisms implicated in the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers.

已经确定了癌症与人类微生物组的组成和功能之间的许多关联。由于癌症仍然是全球第二大死亡原因，因此研究微生物组成员的致癌作用可以促进我们对癌症风险的理解并支持潜在的治疗干预措施。尽管细菌种类的波动与癌症进展有关，但研究其小分子代谢物提供了一种途径来建立对因果关系和控制宿主-微生物相互作用的分子机制的支持。在这篇综述中，我们探讨了小分子代谢物的扩展库及其与胃肠道癌症风险有关的机制。