About this Research Topic
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy that ranks second in cancer-related deaths globally. Its aggressive progression, asymptomatic nature, resistance to available treatments, and lack of timely diagnosis make it a significant public health concern. Although the pathogenesis of CRC remains incompletely understood, its development is thought to involve a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors coupled with inflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota could play critical roles in the development and progression of CRC, which may offer potential early diagnosis and new treatment avenues.
An imbalance in microbiota composition, also known as dysbiosis, has been linked to inflammation, immune dysregulation, and production of carcinogenic metabolites which have implications in CRC pathogenesis. Notably, several gut pathobionts, including pks+ Escherichia coli , enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis , Fusobacterium nucleatum , and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius , have been identified as enriched in the gut lumen or colonic tumors of CRC patients. These microbes either produce genotoxins that cause chromosomal instability or specific metabolites that influence the host's cellular pathways and promote the development of CRC. Moreover, distinct microbial metabolic signatures in individuals with CRC, including changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and short-chain fatty acids, have been characterized. These changes in the microbiome and their metabolisms influence the host's immune responses, leading to local and systemic inflammation and thus promote carcinogenesis. These findings have been actively pursued to identify microbial or metabolite biomarkers for early detection or risk stratification of CRC, as well as to develop microbiota-based interventions as adjunctive or preventive therapies, which could also lead to strategies for personalized CRC management.
Overall, research on the gut microbiota and CRC continues to evolve, with the potential to uncover new insights into the pathogenesis of CRC that would lead to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this research topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, and Perspective articles related to, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• The influence or Modulation of gut microbiota, including composition and function, on CRC initiation, progression, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Roles of driver or passenger microbes in CRC development.
• Identification or verification of predictive and prognostic microbial biomarkers in CRC.
• From single microorganism to polymicrobial infections: biofilm-driven tumorigenesis in CRC.
• Applying organoids to investigate microbiome–host interactions and develop colorectal-cancer therapeutics.
• Modulation of gut microbiota by diets or environmental factors influencing CRC pathogenesis or therapy.
• Roles of probiotics as prophylactics for CRC prevention.
• Probiotics as adjuvant therapy for CRC immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
An imbalance in microbiota composition, also known as dysbiosis, has been linked to inflammation, immune dysregulation, and production of carcinogenic metabolites which have implications in CRC pathogenesis. Notably, several gut pathobionts, including pks+ Escherichia coli , enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis , Fusobacterium nucleatum , and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius , have been identified as enriched in the gut lumen or colonic tumors of CRC patients. These microbes either produce genotoxins that cause chromosomal instability or specific metabolites that influence the host's cellular pathways and promote the development of CRC. Moreover, distinct microbial metabolic signatures in individuals with CRC, including changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and short-chain fatty acids, have been characterized. These changes in the microbiome and their metabolisms influence the host's immune responses, leading to local and systemic inflammation and thus promote carcinogenesis. These findings have been actively pursued to identify microbial or metabolite biomarkers for early detection or risk stratification of CRC, as well as to develop microbiota-based interventions as adjunctive or preventive therapies, which could also lead to strategies for personalized CRC management.
Overall, research on the gut microbiota and CRC continues to evolve, with the potential to uncover new insights into the pathogenesis of CRC that would lead to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, this research topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, and Perspective articles related to, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• The influence or Modulation of gut microbiota, including composition and function, on CRC initiation, progression, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Roles of driver or passenger microbes in CRC development.
• Identification or verification of predictive and prognostic microbial biomarkers in CRC.
• From single microorganism to polymicrobial infections: biofilm-driven tumorigenesis in CRC.
• Applying organoids to investigate microbiome–host interactions and develop colorectal-cancer therapeutics.
• Modulation of gut microbiota by diets or environmental factors influencing CRC pathogenesis or therapy.
• Roles of probiotics as prophylactics for CRC prevention.
• Probiotics as adjuvant therapy for CRC immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
Keywords: gut microbiota, colorectal cancer, dysbiosis, metabolites, diagnostic and therapeutic implications
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