A study has found that the bacteria present in one’s mouth can potentially predict the onset of colorectal cancer.
The relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum, an oral bacteria that causes gum disease, and colorectal cancer has been revealed recently by domestic researchers after years of study, reported Chosun Biz on the 4th.
According to reports, a joint research team from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in the United States and Chosun University in Korea discovered a correlation between human oral bacteria and colorectal cancer. The results of this study were published in Nature on the 21st of last month.
According to the paper published in Nature, the research team compared bacteria isolated from the mouths of Koreans with intestinal bacteria of colorectal cancer patients.
While there have been reports of the oral bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum being found in the intestines of colorectal cancer patients, its impact on the onset of colorectal cancer has not been identified.
The research team collected oral bacteria from around the world to identify which subspecies of Fusobacterium nucleatum plays a significant role in colorectal cancer.
The researchers have confirmed that two distinct groups of oral bacteria strains, C1 and C2, belonging to the animal subspecies of Fusobacterium nucleatum, exist in similar proportions among Koreans who do not have oral cancer lesions. However, all the strains isolated from colorectal cancer lesions were found to belong to the C2 group.
They discovered that the C2 strain influences the onset of colorectal cancer.
When applied to a mouse model, they found a significant increase in the formation of adenomas (a type of polyp that has the potential to become cancerous) in the colon of mice fed the C2 strain.
Intestinal metabolites also changed dramatically when fed the C2 strain. The components involved in the antioxidant action also decreased, implying that the C2 strain generates oxidative stress in colon tissue cells, increasing the possibility of inflammation and cancer progression.
Professor Kuk, who participated in the research from Chosun University College of Dentistry, stated, “This study is the first to confirm that the C2 strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies are highly related to colorectal cancer.” He added, “We confirmed that these strains can survive under highly acidic conditions like gastric acid and reach the colon directly through the mouth.”
Professor Kuk further suggested that the results of this study can be utilized to develop a colorectal cancer prediction kit that can predict the possibility of onset by selectively detecting the C2 strain in saliva or feces.
This study began when Professor Christopher Johnston of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center proposed a joint study to Professor Kuk in 2019.
Since 2005, Professor Kuk has operated the only oral microorganism bank in Korea, researching to isolate and identify strains for over twenty years since he was appointed to the Department of Oral Biochemistry at Chosun University in 2000.
It is known that the samples collected by Professor Kuk and his colleagues over approximately 20 years were used in this study.
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