Abstract
Abstract B020: Unveiling the tumor-associated microbiome in ovarian cancer: Correlations with clinical features, outcomes, and treatment strategies
Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.), Vol.85(18_Supplement), pp.B020-B020
09/19/2025
DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.OVARIAN25-B020
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer-related mortality in women. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease and develop chemotherapy resistance, underscoring the need for biomarkers of early detection and prognostic assessment. Emerging research highlights the tumor-associated microbiome as a promising yet underexplored prognostic biomarker in many non-gynecologic cancers. We aimed to investigate the tumor-associated microbiome in OC, focusing on its differential composition across disease stages and its association with patient survival using bulk tumor RNA sequencing data. Utilizing data from the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN) collected from consenting patients under the Total Cancer Care Protocol (NCT03977402), we analyzed 758 ovarian tumor RNA-seq samples from 21 cancer centers across the United States. The Microbiome Research Interest Group processed RNAseq data through {exotic} v2.1 and normalized the counts based on total sequencer output. We performed DESeq2 analysis to explore the differential microbial abundance across tumor subtypes. Kaplan–Meier survival curves with log-rank tests (mt.surv R package) evaluated associations between microbe abundance and overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for confounding clinical variables. P-values were corrected for multiple comparisons using the Benjamini–Hochberg method. The final data set included 182 early-stage and 502 advanced-stage tumors; of those, the majority were high-grade serous (n = 474) and 38 low-grade serous cases. Microbial abundance profiling revealed distinct tumor subtypes’ microbial signatures. In advanced-stage tumors, Pseudomonas (log2FC = 1.64, q = 0.025) and Bacteroides (log2FC = 2.84, q = 0.026) were significantly enriched, whereas no microbes were significantly enriched in early-stage tumors. High-grade serous ovarian tumors showed many significantly enriched microbes, but none were enriched in low-grade serous. In particular, Bacillus demonstrated the most substantial increase in abundance (log2FC = 12.04, q = < 0.001), followed by Escherichia (log2FC = 9.67, q = < 0.001), Candida (log2FC = 8.90, q = < 0.001), Pseudomonas (log2FC = 3.47, q = < 0.001) and Fusarium (log2FC = 3.51, q = < 0.001). High Candida abundance was significantly associated with poorer overall survival in OC patients (HR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.35–2.33; p < 0.001), independent of age, disease stage, and menopausal status. Our findings reveal tumor subtype-specific microbial profiles in OC, with Pseudomonas strongly linked to advanced-stage disease and Candida abundance associated with poorer survival outcomes. Pseudomonas has been associated with obesity-related inflammation in tissues. Candida has been associated with treatment resistance and hypoxia and has been linked with worse survival in colorectal cancer patients. These findings underscore the potential influence of the tumor-associated microbiome on patient outcomes and highlight its emerging significance as a predictive factor in OC.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Abstract B020: Unveiling the tumor-associated microbiome in ovarian cancer: Correlations with clinical features, outcomes, and treatment strategies
- Creators
- Yogita Mehra - The Ohio State UniversityRebecca Hoyd - The Ohio State UniversityDaniel Spakowicz - The Ohio State UniversityAik Choon Tan - Huntsman Cancer InstituteTherese Bocklage - Markey Cancer CenterAhmad A. Tarhini - Moffitt Cancer CenterBodour Salhia - University of Southern CaliforniaMelanie Rutkowski - University of VirginiaGreg Riedlingeer - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySong Yao - Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterAshiq Masood - Indiana University HealthCraig ShriverDebra L. Richardson - Oklahoma State University Oklahoma CityDinesh Pal Mudaranthakam - University of Kansas Medical CenterCarlos ChanJesus Gonzalez Bosquet - University of Iowa, Obstetrics and GynecologyMichelle ChurchmanNicole Marjon - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusRobert J. RounbehlerJulia Chalif - The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterDavid M. O’Malley - The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterLaura Chambers - The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.), Vol.85(18_Supplement), pp.B020-B020
- DOI
- 10.1158/1538-7445.OVARIAN25-B020
- ISSN
- 0008-5472
- eISSN
- 1538-7445
- Publisher
- AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/19/2025
- Academic Unit
- Surgery; Radiation Oncology; Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Record Identifier
- 9984966338802771
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