Gut microbiota – new insight in colorectal cancer pathogenesis

Mihaita Patrasescu^{1, 2}, Petrut Nuta¹, Raluca S. Costache^{1, 2}, Sandica Bucurica^{1, 2}, Bogdan Macadon¹, Vasile Balaban^{1, 2}, Andrada Popescu^{1, 2}, Roxana Calin¹, Florentina Ioniţă Radu^{1, 3}, Mariana Jinga^{1, 2}

1 - Carol Davila University Emergency Central Military Hospital, Bucharest
2 - Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of General Medicine, Bucharest
3 - Titu Maiorescu University, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest

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Received: August 31, 2018

Accepted: October 26, 2018

Abstract:

Gut microbiota is a superorganism involved in homeostasis and in pathogenesis. Microbiota composition is influenced by several factors such as: type of birth (cesarean or natural), role of age, role of diet. Pathological consequences of certain type of diet (especially western type of diet) may, in fact, be mediated by gut microbiota alteration. Also few studies have investigated the issue of gut microbiota composition in patients suffering of colorectal cancer, several reports notice relevant differences. Certain pathogenic bacteria in gut microbiota have been extensively studied in relation to their role in colorectal cancer. Thus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is abundant in colorectal cancer patient’s colon, may initiate the progression from adenoma to adenocarcinoma. A suggested pattern of oncogenesis in colorectal cancer may be represented by this: dysbiosis-inflammation-oncogenesis. A metanalysis that has been published in 2006 concluded a protective role of probiotics in colorectal cancer and in colonic adenoma.