Biofilms in Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms, Host Reprogramming and Tumor Progression presents a focused and multidisciplinary examination of the emerging role of microbial biofilms in cancer biology. The volume challenges the conventional view of biofilms as merely persistent microbial communities and highlights their potential contribution to chronic inflammation, host-cell reprogramming, tumor development, cancer progression, and invasion.The book begins by establishing biofilms as an underestimated threat in cancer, providing a foundation for understanding the complex interactions between microbial communities and malignant tissues. It subsequently explores the molecular mechanisms through which quorum sensing and biofilm-associated signals can influence host-cell behavior, together with the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation and microbial interaction with host cells.A major focus of the volume is the biofilm-mediated modulation of the tumor microenvironment. The chapters examine how biofilm components can dysregulate cytokines and chemokines, sustain chronic inflammatory responses, and create conditions that may favor tumorigenesis. Particular attention is given to the transition from persistent microbial colonization and inflammation to malignant transformation and tumor progression.The book also provides organism- and cancer-specific perspectives, with detailed discussions of the contribution of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida biofilms to oral squamous cell carcinoma, as well as the involvement of Helicobacter pylori, Fusobacterium nucleatum, P. gingivalis, Escherichia coli, and Candida across specific cancer contexts. These chapters highlight the diversity of microbial strategies and host responses associated with biofilm-linked malignancies.The concluding perspective addresses the emerging role of biofilms in cancer invasion, bringing together microbial persistence, host-cell interaction, inflammatory signaling, and tumor progression into an integrated framework. Collectively, the volume provides a comprehensive overview of the biofilm-host-inflammation-cancer axis, emphasizing how microbial communities may influence different stages of cancer biology.This book will be valuable to microbiologists, cancer biologists, oncologists, molecular biologists, immunologists, oral health researchers, infectious-disease specialists, biotechnologists, clinicians, and postgraduate researchers seeking to understand the increasingly important intersection of microbial biofilms and cancer. It also provides a foundation for identifying new research questions, biomarkers, preventive strategies, and potential therapeutic targets at the interface of infection and malignancy.Integrative Biofilm-Infection-Cancer Perspective: Provides a multidisciplinary examination of how biofilms influence carcinogenesis through horizontal gene transfer, oncogenic signaling, epigenetic reprogramming, immune modulation, genetic instability, and microbial metabolites, establishing a comprehensive framework for understanding the biofilm-cancer axis.Convergence of Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and AI: Highlights emerging AI-driven nanobiosensors, multiplexed diagnostics, metaheuristic optimization, multi-omics, and intelligent surveillance platforms for early detection and monitoring of infection-associated cancer risks.From Molecular Mechanisms to One Health Translation: Bridges fundamental molecular biology with therapeutic opportunities, environmental consequences, biosafety and legal considerations, while incorporating wastewater surveillance and AI-enabled pathogen/cancer-risk assessment within an integrated One Health framework.
