(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Bacteria residing in the human intestinal tract may
be associated with an individual's risk of developing colon cancer. Colorectal
cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S., where it caused an estimated
50,000 deaths in 2009.
"Our findings suggest that some bacterial signatures are more frequently
detected in subjects with polyps, early lesions that can develop into cancer,
while other bacterial signatures are less frequently observed in such
individuals," Tyler Culpepper, a researcher from the University of Florida in
Gainesville, was quoted as saying.
Culpepper and colleagues collected data on dietary habits, medical history,
fecal samples and multiple colon biopsy samples from 91 subjects. They analyzed
microbiota composition in 30 individuals with at least one polyp and 30 age- and
gender- matched controls.
Several bacterial signatures were detected only in subjects with polyps, others
only in subjects without polyps. Eubacterium ramulus was increased in subjects
with polyps while Ruminococcus sp and a human intestine firmicute were increased
in subjects without polyps. In tissue samples, Acidovorax sp. was found more
frequently in subjects with polyps.
Researchers observed other bacterial signatures that differed but did not match
any known bacteria, suggesting the presence of unidentified and uncharacterized
bacteria.
Culpepper concluded, "The results of this work suggest the feasibility of
developing non-invasive screening tests based on detecting distortions in
microbiota composition and a potential for the development of diet-based
prevention regimen aimed at improving gut microbiota composition and reducing
CRC risk."
SOURCE: Presented at the General Meeting of the American Society for
Microbiology, San Diego, CA, May 25, 2010
