Gynecologic Cancer Patients Have Bladder Microbiomes Similar to Healthy Women

New research reveals that women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers possess bladder microbiomes remarkably similar to those of healthy women. The study, involving 92 women aged 22 to 92—20 with gynecologic malignancies and 72 without—found no significant differences in bacterial diversity within or between these groups. Using pre-treatment catheterized urine samples and DNA sequencing, researchers observed comparable microbial compositions, challenging previous assumptions that cancer alters bladder microbiota significantly. These findings imply that women with gynecologic cancers can serve as suitable control subjects in bladder microbiome studies, facilitating research into urinary tract infections and other urogynecological conditions. The study's insights pave the way for more inclusive and accurate investigations into the role of the microbiome in urogynecologic health and disease. Reference: Nasse A et al. Gynecologic Oncology Patients have Urobiomes that are Similar to Women Without Gynecologic Cancer. Int Urogynecol J. 2025. doi: 10.1007/s00192-025-06235-6.