The study of the microbiome has significantly contributed to our understanding of complex diseases including cancer, with a profound influence of the microbiota on clinical prognosis and the efficacy of cancer treatments. Oesophageal cancer is positioned amongst the most aggressive malignant diseases, resulting from a complex interaction between anthropometric, genetic, immune response, and environmental factors. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oesophageal cancer and is a serious burden in Eastern Africa, in the area known as the African oesophageal cancer corridor (AOCC). OSCC is often diagnosed at a late stage, with patients already suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration due to swallowing difficulties, leading to high mortality rates. So far, aetiological factors have been individually analysed with an inappropriate contextualisation. The upper digestive tract microbiome has been proposed to contribute to the onset and progression of OSCC but with limited understanding of the mechanisms behind this interaction. Data on African populations are limited, and the aetiology of AOCC is still poorly understood. This review discusses the current knowledge of the aetiology of OSCC in Africa, with special focus on the probable influence of the upper digestive tract microbiota.

中文翻译：

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上消化道微生物组和食道鳞状细胞癌：非洲的流行病学、发病机制和临床意义

微生物组的研究极大地促进了我们对包括癌症在内的复杂疾病的理解，微生物组对临床预后和癌症治疗的疗效产生了深远的影响。食管癌是最具侵袭性的恶性疾病之一，由人体测量学、遗传、免疫反应和环境因素之间复杂的相互作用引起。食道鳞状细胞癌 (OSCC) 是最常见的食道癌类型，是东非的一个严重负担，位于被称为非洲食道癌走廊 (AOCC) 的地区。OSCC通常被诊断为晚期，由于吞咽困难，患者已经患有严重的营养不良和脱水，导致高死亡率。迄今为止，已经在不适当的背景下单独分析了病因因素。已经提出上消化道微生物组有助于 OSCC 的发生和进展，但对这种相互作用背后的机制了解有限。关于非洲人口的数据有限，对 AOCC 的病因仍知之甚少。本综述讨论了非洲 OSCC 病因的当前知识，特别关注上消化道微生物群的可能影响。