Biliary Tract and Pancreatic Cancer (BTPC) in Adult Patients: The Role of the Biliary Microbiota in Cancer and Therapeutic Strategies-A Scoping Review.

Background

The biliary and pancreatic tract is increasingly recognized as a microbial ecosystem rather than a sterile environment. Dysbiosis contributes to inflammation, bile acid alterations, and carcinogenesis, with distinct microbiota profiles linked to progression from benign to malignant conditions. Clinical factors, including gut-liver axis disruption and biliary stenting, may further exacerbate microbial imbalance.

Objective

The objective of this study is to synthesize current evidence and identify knowledge gaps on the role of biliary microbiota in pancreaticobiliary carcinogenesis and its implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

Methods

This scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed for studies published between January 2015 and December 2025, guided by the PICo framework.

Results

Included studies primarily characterized changes in microbiota composition to identify microbial biomarkers associated with pancreaticobiliary diseases. Predictive bioinformatics analyses suggest that dysbiosis may promote carcinogenesis through metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Machine learning approaches identified microbiota-based signatures with potential diagnostic value for precancerous lesions, although discrimination remains limited. Biliary dysbiosis was also associated with outcomes related to biliary stenting, chemoprophylaxis, postoperative complications, and responses to chemotherapy or surgery.

Conclusions

Integration of microbiota profiling with predictive bioinformatics and machine learning may improve understanding of pancreaticobiliary carcinogenesis. Identifying microbial and functional biomarkers could enable personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.