| Theme | Impacts of intestinal microbiota | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Relationship between oral bacteria and colorectal cancer | |
| Publish Date | 2017/07 | |
| Author | Yasuhiko Komiya | Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine |
| Author | Takuma Higurashi | Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine |
| Author | Atsushi Nakajima | Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | A broader view of oral bacterial physiology and pathogenesis identifies two factors which may promote colonization and persistence of oral bacterial communities in the colon. The polymicrobial nature of oral biofilms and the asaccharolytic metabolism of many of these species make them well suited to life in the microenvironment of colonic lesions. From research on colorectal cancer, microbial communities reveal interesting associations between species and pathology. Deep sequencing studies of colorectal cancer and matched normal tissues exhibit a co-occurrence of oral species and oral anaerobes. Tumorigenesis depends more on the structure and metabolic activities of a community of bacteria than on one specific pathogen. It is not simply specific bacterial virulence factors nor disruption in epithelial signaling or promotion of inflammation which leads to colorectal cancer. All of these components act in a synergistic polymicrobial oral biofilm which creates an ideal tumor microenvironment for persistence and destruction. The entire microbial tumor community, and not just known pathogens must be appreciated in the design of mechanistic studies, microbiota based screening tests, and therapeutic interventions targeting the activities of the microbial consortia for colorectal cancer. |
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