Vibrational spectroscopy for decoding cancer microbiota interactions: Current evidence and future perspective

The role of human microbiota in cancer initiation and progression is recognized in recent years. In order to investigate the interactions between cancer cells and microbes, a systematic analysis using various emerging techniques is required. Owing to the label-free, non-invasive and molecular fingerprinting characteristics, vibrational spectroscopy is uniquely suited to decode and understand the relationship and interactions between cancer and the microbiota at the molecular level. In this review, we first provide a quick overview of the fun-damentals of vibrational spectroscopic techniques, namely Raman and infrared spectroscopy. Next, we discuss the emerging evidence underscoring utilities of these spectroscopic techniques to study cancer or microbes separately, and share our perspective on how vibrational spectroscopy can be employed at the intersection of the two fields. Finally, we envision the potential opportunities in exploiting vibrational spectroscopy not only in basic cancer-microbiome research but also in its clinical translation, and discuss the challenges in the bench to bedside translation.

Automated summary

The role of human microbiota in cancer initiation and progression has gained recognition in recent years. Vibrational spectroscopy, with its label-free, non-invasive, and molecular fingerprinting characteristics, is uniquely suited to decode and understand the relationship and interactions between cancer and the microbiota at the molecular level. This review provides an overview of vibrational spectroscopic techniques, discusses their emerging applications in cancer and microbial research, and explores the potential opportunities and challenges for their clinical translation.