Colorectal Cancer Grows and Proliferates Due to Crosstalk Between Intestinal Microbiota and Mucosal Epithelium

Abstract

Background/Aim: The details of how intestinal microbiota are involved in the carcinogenesis, growth and proliferation of colorectal cancer have not been elucidated. This study investigated how intestinal microbiota were involved in colorectal carcinogenesis, growth and proliferation. Subjects and Methods: Samples were feces and tumor epithelium of patients with colorectal cancer (n=18), and analyzed using a metagenomic analysis after collected genomic DNA from each sample. Results: According to the functional analysis of common microorganisms in feces and tumor epithelium microflora of patients with colorectal cancer, there were no microorganisms which activate any carcinogenic pathways and cancer-related signals. There were observed microorganisms involved in tumor growth such as expression of transporters essential for amino acids uptake, DNA replication / repair, RNA degradation, transcription factors and microorganisms involved in tumor metabolism. Conclusions: Although the colorectal carcinogenic mechanism was unknown, it has been suggested that colorectal cancer may grow and proliferate due to crosstalk between intestinal microbiota and tumor epithelium.