New Study Links Common Skin Fungus to Tumor Formation

Malassezia globosa, a skin fungus, may penetrate deep tissues and facilitate tumor growth, reports a study in mBio. Researchers found that colonization in breast fat pads led to cancer acceleration in mice, highlighting the critical role of the IL-17a/macrophage axis and intertumoral microorganisms.

Malassezia globosa, a common skin fungus, may penetrate deep tissues and lead to tumor formation, according to a recent study published in the American Society for Microbiology's open-access journal, mBio.

"It is important to take care of skin not only for beauty, but also for health," stated Qi-Ming Wang, Ph.D., the study's corresponding author and a professor at Hebei University. Wang emphasized the growing evidence of the link between fungus and cancer. In their research, Wang and colleagues injected M. globosa into the mammary gland fat pad of mice with breast cancer cells, discovering that the fungus colonizes in breast fat pads, thus promoting tumor growth.

The researchers identified the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17a/macrophage axis as pivotal in the mechanisms contributing to the accelerated growth of M. globosa-induced breast cancer. While the exact route of transmission remains unclear, Wang noted the significant role microbes may play in tumor microenvironment disruptions, similar to how Helicobacter pylori is linked to gastric cancer and Fusobacterium nucleatum to colorectal cancer. Understanding microbial imbalances in tumors could be vital for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

(With inputs from agencies.)