Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
10-1-2023
Journal
Annals of Surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: External exposures, the host, and the microbiome interact in oncology. We aimed to investigate tumoral microbiomes in young-onset rectal cancers (YORCs) for profiles potentially correlative with disease etiology and biology.
BACKGROUND: YORC is rapidly increasing, with 1 in 4 new rectal cancer cases occurring under the age of 50 years. Its etiology is unknown.
METHODS: YORC (old) or later-onset rectal cancer (LORC, ≥50 y old) patients underwent pretreatment biopsied of tumor and tumor-adjacent normal (TAN) tissue. After whole genome sequencing, metagenomic analysis quantified microbial communities comparing tumors versus TANs and YORCs versus LORCs, controlling for multiple testing. Response to neoadjuvant therapy (NT) was categorized as major pathological response (MPR, ≤10% residual viable tumor) versus non-MPR.
RESULTS: Our 107 tumors, 75 TANs from 37 (35%) YORCs, and 70 (65%) LORCs recapitulated bacterial species were previously associated with colorectal cancers (all P
CONCLUSIONS: Microbial signatures were distinct between YORC and LORC. Failure to achieve an MPR was associated with oral bacteria in tumors. These findings urge further studies to decipher correlative versus mechanistic associations but suggest a potential for microbial modulation to augment current treatments.
Keywords
Humans, Middle Aged, Neoadjuvant Therapy, Rectal Neoplasms, Biopsy, Microbiota
Included in
Bioinformatics Commons, Biomedical Informatics Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Oncology Commons, Surgery Commons
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Associated Data
PMID: 37465976