The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 226,650 new cases of lung cancer in the United States in 2025 alone—with both men and women have nearly the same risk of being diagnosed. It’s not only lung cancer that puts individuals at risk. Increased pollutants and radon in regions where mining was traditionally conducted also significantly increase the risk, among other factors.

While lung cancer remains one of the leading cause of death in America, the Lung Cancer Foundation of America states that research for it remains underfunded, receiving less than half of the funds provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2019 for cancers such as prostate and breast cancers. Fortunately, in March 2025 researchers in China, with backgrounds in clinical pharmacy or respiratory and critical care medicine, published a review of recent studies in the medical journal Frontiers in Microbiology. What they found could influence the future of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The review’s authors stated, “Microbial microecological imbalance can cause the occurrence and development of lung cancer by producing excessive toxic substances and mediating the inflammatory response.” Essentially, when there’s too much bad bacteria and too little good bacteria in the body, it can lead to inflammation. Lung cancer is “often accompanied by pro-cancer inflammatory microenvironment,” notes the review.

The researchers highlighted that microbiota disorders, which happen when there’s an imbalance of microorganisms (which includes bacteria) in the gut, could cause or progress the development of cancerous tumors, including in the lungs. Besides the intestines, there are also signs that cancer-causing microorganisms could be found in the mouth and lower respiratory tract.

The authors suggest that lung cancer could be diagnosed earlier by “detecting the pernicious bacteria in gut, oral cavity and lower respiratory tract.” Additionally, their research indicated: “About 20% of cancers are closely associated with specific viral or bacterial infections.”

Further, a microecological imbalance could influence the effectiveness of both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Additional research could offer new ways to treat or prevent lung cancer through a “combination of anti-microbial treatment and chemotherapy or immunotherapy, the design of probiotics, and the development of bacteria-derived molecular medicine.”

The authors noted that more research needs to be done before further steps can be taken. Still, the review suggests yet another function of the body’s microbiome. One of the simplest ways to promote a healthy balance in your gut and beyond is to eat a diet diverse in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, be mindful of your intake of meat, and minimize processed food consumption.

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Emily Surpless
Emily has over a decade of experience producing digital content, working on sites focused on health, lifestyle, home, and entertainment. As the editor for The Healthy by Reader’s Digest, she focuses on pitching and optimizing content to satisfy reader curiosity and reach new users. Prior to her role at The Healthy, Emily was the Sr. SEO Manager ...
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Emily Surpless