Abstract
The mammalian gut is inhabited by more than 100 billion symbiotic
microorganisms. The microbial colony residing in the host is recognised as microbiota.
One of the critical functions of microbiota is to prevent the intestine against exogenous
and harmful pathogen colonization mediated by various mechanistic pathways
involving direct competition for limited nutrients and regulation of host immunity.
Cancer accounts for one of the leading causes of mortality arising from multifactorial
abnormalities. The interconnection of microbiota with various pathological conditions
including cancer is recently being researched extensively for analysing tumor
induction, progression, inhibition and diagnosis. The diversified microbial colony
inhabiting the human gut possesses a vast and distinct metabolic repertoire
complementary to the mammalian enzyme activity in the liver as well as gut mucosa
which facilitates processes essential for host digestion. Gut microbiota is often
considered the critical contributor to defining the biochemical profile of diet thus
impacting the health and disease of the hosts. This chapter mainly focuses on
understanding the complex microbial interaction with cancer either negatively or
positively which may help to conceive novel precautionary and therapeutic strategies to
fight cancer.