这项研究阐明了鼻咽癌（NPC）与宿主微生物群（包括肿瘤、鼻腔、鼻咽、口腔、口咽和肠道菌群）之间的复杂关系。鼻咽癌是亚洲主要的一种重要恶性肿瘤，在全球发病率和死亡率均很高。它强调了鼻咽癌中微生物群的组成和多样性如何改变，深入研究了它们对疾病发病机制、治疗反应和治疗副作用的影响。与健康个体相比，鼻咽癌患者的口腔、鼻腔和肠道微生物群的α多样性持续减少，这表明存在表明疾病状态的独特微生物特征。该研究还显示了与不同鼻咽癌阶段相关的独特微生物变化，表明疾病进展和微生物群组成之间的动态相互作用。具有特定微生物特征的患者对化疗和免疫疗法表现出不同的反应，强调了基于微生物群分析的个性化治疗的潜力。此外，鼻咽癌治疗的副作用（例如口腔粘膜炎）会因微生物群落的变化而加剧，这表明微生物群组成与治疗耐受性之间存在直接联系。这种联系为旨在调节微生物群的干预措施提供了机会，以减轻副作用、改善生活质量并可能提高治疗效果。本综述强调了微生物群作为鼻咽癌治疗靶点和生物标志物的双重潜力，强调了其在影响治疗结果和副作用方面的重要性，通过个性化治疗策略和创新方法预示着鼻咽癌管理的新时代。版权所有 © 2024。已发表爱思唯尔 B.V.

This study elucidates the intricate relationship between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a significant malignancy predominant in Asia with notable global incidence and mortality rates, and the host microbiota, including those of tumour, nasal, nasopharyngeal, oral, oropharyngeal, and gut communities. It underscores how the composition and diversity of microbiota are altered in NPC, delving into their implications for disease pathogenesis, treatment response, and the side effects of therapies. A consistent reduction in alpha diversity across oral, nasal, and gut microbiomes in NPC patients compared to healthy individuals signals a distinct microbial signature indicative of the diseased state. The study also shows unique microbial changes tied to different NPC stages, indicating a dynamic interplay between disease progression and microbiota composition. Patients with specific microbial profiles exhibit varied responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, underscoring the potential for treatment personalisation based on microbiota analysis. Furthermore, the side effects of NPC treatments, such as oral mucositis, are intensified by shifts in microbial communities, suggesting a direct link between microbiota composition and treatment tolerance. This nexus offers opportunities for interventions aimed at modulating the microbiota to alleviate side effects, improve quality of life, and potentially enhance treatment efficacy. Highlighting the dual potential of microbiota as both a therapeutic target and a biomarker for NPC, this review emphasises its significance in influencing treatment outcomes and side effects, heralding a new era in NPC management through personalised treatment strategies and innovative approaches.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.