Researchers from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and collaborating Japanese institutions recovered that patients carrying colibactin-producing Escherichia coli (pks+ E. coli) successful their colon polyps were much than 3 times arsenic apt to person a history of colorectal crab compared to those without nan bacterium.
The findings, published successful eGastroenterology, highlight a imaginable domiciled for gut microbes successful accelerating crab consequence successful group pinch a beardown familial predisposition.
Study details
Between 2018 and 2019, nan squad studied 75 FAP patients who had not yet undergone colon surgery, preserving their earthy gut microbiota. Tissue samples from colon polyps and surrounding mucosa were collected during endoscopy and analyzed for pks+ E. coli.
Key results include:
- High prevalence: The bacterium was recovered successful a important proportionality of patients, particularly smokers.
- Surgery effect: No pks+ E. coli was detected successful patients who had antecedently undergone colorectal surgery, suggesting that an intact microbiota is required for colonization.
- Cancer link: Among non-surgical patients, those pinch anterior colorectal crab were complete 3 times much apt to transportation pks+ E. coli (risk ratio 3.25).
- Tissue changes: Adenomas harboring nan bacterium showed much DNA harm and signs of inflammation, including elevated IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine.
Why it matters
This study raises nan anticipation that targeting circumstantial microbes could thief forestall crab successful high-risk groups."
The researchers propose that colibactin, a toxin produced by nan bacterium, damages DNA and triggers inflammatory signals that whitethorn accelerate tumor progression successful nan already susceptible colonic insubstantial of FAP patients.
Looking ahead
The study is among nan first to analyse nan domiciled of gut germs successful FAP patients earlier surgery, offering a uncommon glimpse into nan earthy microbial situation of this population.
The authors be aware that nan findings are preliminary and based connected a comparatively mini diligent group. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to corroborate nan results. If validated, nan investigation could pave nan measurement for caller approaches, specified as:
- Microbiome-targeted prevention (probiotics, bacteriophages, aliases antibiotics).
- Risk screening done bacterial discovery successful stool aliases mucosal samples.
- New therapies targeting colibactin-induced DNA harm and inflammation.
Conclusion
The study provides early but compelling grounds that colibactin-producing E. coli whitethorn play a domiciled successful colorectal crab improvement successful patients pinch familial adenomatous polyposis. By sparkling ray connected nan interplay betwixt genes, microbes, and environment, nan findings unfastened caller avenues for crab prevention strategies successful hereditary syndromes.
Source:
Journal reference:
Ishikawa, H., et al. (2025). Contribution of colibactin-producingEscherichia colito colonic carcinogenesis. eGastroenterology. doi.org/10.1136/egastro-2024-100177.