Candida albicans confers radiation therapy resistance and is associated with decreased survival in rectal cancer
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Date
2025-05
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
In the following thesis, we report that Candida species are associated with increased hypoxia and decreased survival in human colorectal tumors. Further, in an immune-competent mouse model of rectal cancer, we show that the oral gavage of Candida albicans causally confers radiation resistance. Additionally, tumors from mice inoculated with C. albicans exhibit altered immune infiltration, metabolism, and cell signaling. To attempt to understand the mechanism of radioresistance, we completed untargeted metabolomics on C. albicans cultured in aerobic and anaerobic conditions and observed increased purine synthesis and intermediates of glycolysis. These findings suggest that the presence of C. albicans within rectal tumors is causally modifying the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, which may play a larger role in decreased therapy response.
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Keywords
Fungi, Cancer, Microbiome, Tumor, Candida, Radiation