The Possible Preventative Role of Lactate- and Butyrate-Producing Bacteria in Colorectal Carcinogenesis
Chin‐Hee Song, Nayoung Kim, Ryoung Hee Nam, Soo In Choi, Jae Young Jang, Eun Hye Kim, Jina Choi, Yonghoon Choi, Hyuk Yoon, Sun Min Lee, Yeong‐Jae Seok
Abstract
Background/Aims: : The gut microbiome has emerged as a key player that mechanistically links various risk factors to colorectal cancer (CRC) etiology. However, the role of the gut microbiome in CRC pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota in healthy controls (HCs) and patients with colorectal adenoma (AD) and CRC in subgroups based on sex and age. Methods: : Study participants who visited the hospital for surveillance of CRC or gastrointestinal symptoms were prospectively enrolled, and the gut microbiome was analyzed based on fecal samples. Results: ) were more abundant in females than males among younger HC group subjects. However, these sex- and age-dependent differences were not observed in the AD and CRC groups. Conclusions: : The gut microbiome, specifically lactate- and butyrate-producing bacteria, which were found to be abundant in the HC group, may play a role in preventing the progression of CRC. In particular, lactate-producing bacteria, which were found to be less abundant in healthy male controls may contribute to the higher incidence of CRC in males.