SCIENTISTS RECENTLY DISCOVERED A SURPRISING TWIST with a common bacteria, linking one of two strains to colon cancer. Today, we explore the mouth microbiome and colon cancer.
I am a cancer doctor and a bit of a nerd, so I couldn’t resist writing a short basic science essay.
I am delighted that we are increasing our understanding of colorectal cancer.
Colon Cancer Statistics
Colon cancer is the second biggest killer of cancer in adults (right behind lung cancer) in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.
Moreover, there is this disturbing finding: Colon cancer rates are on the rise, especially in younger adults:
- Younger Adults at Higher Risk: The percentage of people under 55 diagnosed with colon cancer has nearly doubled between 1995 and 2019, leaping from 11 to 20 percent of cases.
- Later Diagnoses: These cancers are often diagnosed at later stages when they are more aggressive and harder to treat in young adults.
Let’s turn to new research findings that hopefully will lead to better colorectal cancer management tools.
Bacteria and Cancer
A growing body of research explores how different types of bacteria, even those in your mouth, might play a role in malignancy, including colorectal cancer.
In other words, understanding how bacteria might be involved could be a key to fighting this disease more effectively.
A recent study published in Nature suggests that a type of bacteria commonly found in dental plaque might be linked to a particularly aggressive form of colon cancer resistant to treatment.
Mouth Microbiome and Colon Cancer
For the past ten years, scientists have been zeroing in on a particular type of bacteria called Fusobacterium nucleatum as a possible culprit in colon cancer growth.
Here’s the surprising part: this bacteria usually lives in your mouth, far away from your colon.
Despite its usual hangout spot, studies have found higher levels of F. nucleatum in the guts of people with colon tumors compared to those without cancer.
This growing body of evidence suggests a strange connection between mouth bacteria and colon health that researchers are eager to understand better.
Study Details
The new study sheds light on the curious link between a mouth bacterium and colon cancer. Here’s the breakdown from the U.S. National Cancer Institute:
- The Culprit: Scientists have identified a specific type of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) bacteria as a potential key player in colon cancer development.
- From Mouth to Gut: Lab tests showed that only this Fna C2 strain could survive the stomach’s harsh acidic environment, potentially paving the way for it to reach the colon.
- Promoting Cancer Growth: In mice studies, Fna C2 bacteria increased precancerous growths in the large intestine. It also produces compounds that create a “friendly” environment for developing tumors.
- The Smoking Gun: Tissue samples from colon cancer patients revealed that this specific F. nucleatum was more likely to be found in cancerous tissue than in healthy tissue nearby. Moreover, people with colon cancer were six times (30 versus less than five percent) more likely to have this bacteria in their stool compared to those without the disease.
This research strengthens the connection between mouth bacteria and colon cancer.
While more investigation is needed, it’s an exciting development that could lead to new prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.
My Thoughts – Mouth Microbiome and Colon Cancer
I love the out-of-the-box thinking of the NCI researchers.
The research team conducted mice experiments to understand Fna C2’s ability to help tumors form and grow.
That work showed that Fna C2 could slightly increase the formation of adenomas in the colon.
It also produced changes in energy availability for cancer cells in the intestines that could create an environment favorable to tumor formation.
If we can target Fna C2, we may be able to prevent adenomas that would later become colon cancer. Someday, we may add Fna C2 to colorectal screening tests.
I imagine a world in which we attach an anti-cancer agent to the bacteria and let it find its way to a tumor. Lab-grown bacteria targeting specific cancer cells.
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Early detection remains a crucial tool in our fight against colorectal cancer, especially with young adult disease on the rise.
Colorectal Cancer: Screening
www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.
If you have symptoms (for example, rectal bleeding, a change in bowel habits, abdominal or rectal pain, or unexpected weight loss), please get in touch with your doctor.
One more thing: Please get an appropriate screening test. Early intervention can improve treatment outcomes and survival rates. And try to maintain good oral health.
4 Tips for Reducing Your Colorectal Cancer Risk
ACCORDING TO A LARGE EUROPEAN STUDY, you may lower your colorectal cancer risk through lifestyle management. Today, I…medium.com
Thank you for reading “Mouth Microbiome and Colon Cancer.” Don’t forget to sign up to follow this blog site. And if you want to read more, please hit the HOME button at the top of this page.
