Bacteria May Predict Colorectal Cancer
Reported May 27, 2010
(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
