The role of microbiota on thyroid cancer: from carcinogenicity, treatment and predictability

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the mechanism of microbiota in thyroid cancer (TC). Gut microbiota (GM) and its metabolites can regulate the immune system and affect thyroid function through the gut-thyroid axis. When the GM is dysregulated, the intestinal barrier function is impaired, resulting in immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation, oncogene activation, and eventually leading to the occurrence of TC. In addition, intratumoral microbiota (ITM) is also directly involved in the occurrence, progression and invasion of TC. However, the mechanism of action between the microbiome and TC is still under exploration, and the research results in this field will have a major impact on disease cognition and clinical intervention. Chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy are the main non-surgical treatments for TC. Furthermore, gut microbiota modulators, including probiotics and prebiotics, represent a potential therapeutic strategy for TC, offering new avenues for individualized treatment. In addition, the differences of microbiota in patients with TC can be used to predict tumor subtype, invasion, lymph node metastasis, and the efficacy of 131 I treatment. This review will integrate the existing research results to explore the role of microbiota in the occurrence, development, treatment and prediction of TC, so as to provide important reference for clinical research and treatment.