Metformin elicits antitumour effect by modulation of the gut microbiota and rescues Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced colorectal tumourigenesis
Xiaowen Huang, Xialu Hong, Jilin Wang, Tiantian Sun, TaChung Yu, Yanan Yu, Jing‐Yuan Fang, Hua Xiong
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effect of metformin on gut microbiota has been reported, but whether metformin can suppress colorectal cancer (CRC) by affecting gut microbiota composition and rescue F. nucleatum-induced tumourigenicity remains unclear. METHODS: mice given with or without F. nucleatum. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed. FINDINGS: mice. INTERPRETATION: This study pioneers in predicting critical CRC-associated taxa contributing to the antitumour effect of metformin, and correlating gut microbiome with the antitumour effect of metformin in experimental animals. We presented a basis for future investigations into metformin's potential effect on suppressing F. nucleatum-induced tumor formation in vivo. FUNDING: This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31701250).