Most Frequent Bacteria in Colorectal Cancer Patients and Their Roles in Colorectal Carcinogenesis

Samad Farashi Bonab & Nemat Khansari^*

Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Dr. Nemat Khansari, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Keywords: Microbiota; Bacteria; Colorectal Cancer; Carcinogenesis; Azoxymethane

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. The intestinal mucosal surface is continuously exposed to enormous microorganisms. The human intestinal tract harbors approximately 10¹⁴ bacteria. Most of these bacteria have roles in intestinal homeostasis and may exert anticancer effects. However, bacterial metabolites that are genotoxic can trigger epithelial cell carcinogenesis. Furthermore, a variety of inflammatory mediators produced during bacterial infection can also promote cancer development and progression. Some bacterial species are associated with human colorectal cancer. These bacteria can be involved in colorectal cancer development and progression through induction of chronic inflammation, DNA damage, aberrant cell proliferation, and immunosuppression in the intestinal tissue. In this paper, we discuss most frequent bacteria in colorectal cancer patients and their roles in colorectal carcinogenesis.

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