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Abstract
Depression in cancer patients remains a significant challenge, with multifactorial origins encompassing psychological, biological, and social determinants. Recent research has highlighted the role of the gut microbiome, particularly fungal dysbiosis driven by Candida overgrowth, as a contributor to inflammation and neuropsychiatric symptoms in oncology. The present hypothesis proposes that targeted probiotic supplementation could mitigate Candida-driven dysbiosis, reduce systemic and neuroinflammation, and thereby alleviate depressive symptoms in cancer patients. This manuscript reviews the existing evidence for the gut-brain-immune axis in cancer-related depression, distinguishes the unique role of Candida among gut microbiota alterations, evaluates current antifungal and probiotic interventions, discusses safety considerations in immunocompromised populations, and outlines research pathways for clinical translation, including candidate probiotic strains and the use of biomarkers for personalized therapy. Rigorous clinical trials are required to validate efficacy, safety, and optimal implementation strategies. If proven, microbiome-targeted approaches could complement current standards, addressing the complex biopsychosocial needs of cancer patients.
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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Type: Perspective Article
ELECTRON J GEN MED, Volume 23, Issue 1, February 2026, Article No: em709
https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/17676
Publication date: 01 Jan 2026
Online publication date: 31 Dec 2025
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Article Downloads: 584
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