It has been revealed that there could be potential links between colorectal cancer and oral bacterium. Check out the latest reports about this below.
Colorectal cancer links to oral bacterium
A recent study published in Nature reveals that a common oral bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is associated with a severe form of colorectal cancer, could be responsible for driving tumor growth.
Researchers from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center conducted various tests on human stool samples and mice, which showed the transfer of this bacterium in about half of the colorectal cancers identified in tumors removed from 200 patients.
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, as per the American Cancer Society. It is expected to claim the lives of more than 53,000 people in 2024.
Fusobacterium nucleatum is detected in patients with a poor prognosis and survival rate, according to Susan Bullman, co-corresponding study author and cancer microbiome researcher at Fred Hutch.
“Now we’re finding that a specific subtype of this microbe is responsible for tumor growth,” she said. “It suggests therapeutics and screening that target this subgroup within the microbiota would help people who are at a higher risk for more aggressive colorectal cancer.”
The study found that a specific subtype of Fusobacterium, known as Fna C2, was present in half of the tumors analyzed. It is also worth noting the fact that higher quantities of Fna C2 were found in stool samples from 627 colorectal patients compared to 619 healthy individuals in a separate analysis conducted as part of the study.
Fna C2 is one of two distinct lineages of Fusobacterium nucleatum observed in colorectal tumors. It differs from the other clade, called Fna C1, by 195 genetic traits. The traits of Fna C2 suggest that it can survive stomach acid and thrive in the colon.
The acid present in the stomach usually prevents the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestine. However, there are certain factors that can interfere with this protective mechanism.
For instance, bacteria like Heliobacter pylori (H. Pylori) can adapt to the acidic environment of the stomach, which makes it difficult to inhibit their growth. Additionally, having low levels of stomach acid can also increase the risk of infection.
