Esophageal Cancer and Gut Microbiota

Abstract

In recent years, the relationship between various cancers and the gut microbiome has been reported. Like the intestine, there are many bacteria in the esophageal mucosa, forming a diverse esophageal flora. The esophagus is affected by various factors, such as the passage of food and drink from the oral cavity and gastric acid reflux from the stomach, and it is thought that these factors also affect the composition of the esophageal flora. This article reviews the esophageal flora in the normal esophagus, and the composition and changes of esophageal flora in esophageal diseases (reflux esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus) and esophageal cancer.