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Urinary microbiota and prostatic diseases: the key for the lock? A systematic review

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 26, pages 451–460 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Urinary microbiota is implicated in many diseases of the urinary tract. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the role of urinary microbiota in prostatic diseases.

Methods

A PubMed/Medline search was undergone from inception through June 2022 for studies investigating urinary microbiota alterations in prostatic diseases, subdivided into benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer (PCa), and chronic prostatitis (CP). Study selection followed the PRISMA statement. Phylum, family, genus and species of each bacterium in cancer patients and controls were recorded. Quality of included studies was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist for non-randomized studies.

Results

A total of 16 studies (4 studies on BPH, 9 studies on PCa and 3 studies on CP) comprising 1486 patients were included in our final analysis. Patients with BPH had a different urinary microbial composition, with a certain pattern proven to be associated with a higher lower urinary tract symptoms severity. Regarding PCa, some bacterial phyla/genera/classes/species were more abundant in PCa and others predicted a higher grade disease. In patients with CP, a different microbiota composition and a higher diversity were found, with the symptom severity being influenced mainly by microbiota composition, favoring aerobic microorganisms.

Conclusion

Urinary microbiota is implicated in prostatic diseases, especially in BPH, PCa and CP. However, given the relative heterogeneity among published studies, this implication suggests better delineation is needed. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Urinary microbiota composition in the three included prostatic diseases in this review: benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer and chronic prostatitis.
Fig. 3

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Erasme hospital and Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

    Georges Mjaess, Thierry Roumeguère, Romain Diamand & Simone Albisinni

  2. Hotel-Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon

    Aya Karam & Fouad Aoun

  3. Center for Male Health, Department of Urology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160S. First Ave., Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Kevin McVary

  4. Division of Urologic Surgery, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Judd W. Moul

  5. Department of Urology, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Cosimo De Nunzio

  6. Urology Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University Hospital, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

    Simone Albisinni

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Contributions

Conceptualization: GM, CDN and SA. Data acquisition: GM and AK. Data analysis: GM, AK and SA. Manuscript writing—first draft: GM, AK, TR and SA. Manuscript writing—review and editing: TR, RD, FA, KM, JM, CDN and SA. Supervision: TR, CDN and SA.

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Correspondence to Georges Mjaess.

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Mjaess, G., Karam, A., Roumeguère, T. et al. Urinary microbiota and prostatic diseases: the key for the lock? A systematic review. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 26, 451–460 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41391-022-00602-w

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