Mucosa-associated microbiota signature in colorectal cancer

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2017 Nov;36(11):2073-2083. doi: 10.1007/s10096-017-3026-4. Epub 2017 Jun 9.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the gut microbiota profiles of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and to examine the relationship between gut microbiota and other key molecular factors involved in CRC tumorigenesis. In this study, a 16S rDNA sequencing platform was used to identify possible differences in the microbiota signature between CRC and adjacent normal mucosal tissue. Differences in the microbiota composition in different anatomical colorectal tumor sites and their potential association with KRAS mutation were also explored. In this study, the number of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria decreased, while the number of Fusobacteria increased in the gut of CRC patients. In addition, at the genus level, Fusobacterium was identified as the key contributor to CRC tumorigenesis. In addition, a different distribution of gut microbiota in ascending and descending colon cancer samples was observed. Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis-associated microbial genes were enriched in tumor tissues. Our study suggests that specific mucosa-associated microbiota signature and function are significantly changed in the gut of CRC patients, which may provide insight into the progression of CRC. These findings could also be of value in the creation of new prevention and treatment strategies for this type of cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / classification*
  • Bacteria / genetics*
  • Bacterial Load
  • Base Sequence
  • Colon / microbiology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / microbiology*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / genetics*
  • Genome, Bacterial / genetics
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • KRAS protein, human
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)