The Impact of Antimicrobial Resistance on Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a critical global challenge, posing substantial implications for managing infectious diseases and impacting treatment efficacy across diverse medical conditions, including cancer. Cancer patients are often susceptible to bacterial infections due to immune system suppression caused by the disease and its therapies, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This review examines the relationship between AMR and cancer treatment, highlighting the mechanisms through which microbes resist antimicrobial drugs, such as active drug efflux, limiting drug uptake, modifying the drug target, and inactivating the drug via enzymatic degradation or modification. These resistance mechanisms challenge the effectiveness of treatment regimens, imposing significant clinical and economic consequences. A comprehensive literature search was conducted via online databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and BioMed Central. It covered publications from 2010 to 2024 that address AMR and its effects on cancer care with specified inclusion and exclusion criteria to guide the study selection process. This study highlights the crucial need for interdisciplinary research, innovative treatment strategies, effective antimicrobial stewardship programs, and policy interventions to combat AMR in oncology settings. Conclusively, antimicrobial resistance remains a pressing concern in modern medicine, significantly complicating cancer treatment by reducing the efficacy of antibiotics, thereby leading to prolonged illnesses and hospital stays, increased morbidity and mortality rates, and higher economic burdens on healthcare systems.