AUTHOR=Ou Tongwen , Zhou Zejun , Turner David P. , Zhu Baoli , Lilly Michael , Jiang Wei 

TITLE=Increased Preoperative Plasma Level of Microbial 16S rDNA Translocation Is Associated With Relapse After Prostatectomy in Prostate Cancer Patients

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.01532

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2019.01532

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> The environmental factors for promoting prostate cancer (PCa) recurrence remain unknown.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in healthy men (<italic>n</italic> = 12) and PCa patients undergoing prostatectomy (<italic>n</italic> = 27). Plasma preoperative level of total cell-free bacterial 16S rDNA, a marker of microbial translocation, was evaluated by qPCR. Plasma levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were evaluated by ELISA.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Similar degrees of microbial translocation were found in healthy men and patients. However, the levels of microbial 16S rDNA were increased in patients with cancer relapse (<italic>n</italic> = 10) compared to patients without relapse (<italic>n</italic> = 17) after prostatectomy. Furthermore, the levels of microbial 16S rDNA were marginally increased in patients with pT3 or pT4 tumors compared to those with pT 2 or less. The levels of microbial 16S rDNA tended to increase in patients with higher pathologic tumor stage, Gleason score, and margin and lymph node involvements; but these differences did not reach significance.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The plasma 16S rDNA levels increased in patients with PCa who have biochemical recurrence and 16S rDNA levels were higher in patients with higher-grade PCa.</p>