Urinary microbiome of men with and without prostate cancer

Studies demonstrating bacterial DNA and cultivable bacteria in urine samples have challenged the clinical dogma that urine is sterile. Furthermore, studies now indicate that dysbiosis of the urinary microbiome is associated with pathological conditions. We propose that the urinary microbiome may influence chronic inflammation observed in the prostate, leading to prostate cancer development and progression. We therefore aimed to profile the urinary microbiome in men with positive versus negative biopsies for prostate cancer.