The type of bacteria in the mouth that can cause colon cancer.
On August 14, American scientists announced they had discovered how a common bacterium found in the mouth can cause a range of changes leading to colon cancer.
According to the journal Cell Host & Microbe, two studies concluded that fusobacteria, found in the mouth, can stimulate adverse immune responses and activate cancer-causing genes that create colon tumors.
In the United States, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death. Recent studies have shown that oral fusobacteria are more prevalent in the tissues of colon cancer patients. However, it remains unclear whether they directly contribute to tumor formation.
In the first study, Professor Yiping Han of Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and his colleagues discovered that fusobacteria used a molecule called FadA, found on the surface of these bacterial cells, to attach to and invade colon cancer cells.
FadA then stimulates cancer-promoting genes and triggers inflammatory responses, promoting tumor formation.
Professor Han's team also found FadA concentrations 10 to 100 times higher than normal in precancerous colon polyps and malignancies. They also discovered an amino acid sequence that can block the effects of FadA on cancer cells.
Professor Han stated that scientists have indicated that FadA is a "marker" that can be used for early diagnosis of colon cancer and is a potential therapeutic target for treating and preventing this common disease.
In a second study, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that fusobacteria are commonly found in benign human tumors—or tumors that may turn malignant after a period of time. They suggest that these bacteria contribute to the early stages of tumor formation.
In a colon cancer trial in mice, these bacteria accelerated tumor formation by attracting immune cells called myeloid cells to invade the tumor, while also stimulating inflammatory responses that can lead to cancer.
Professor Han emphasized that the above findings not only lead to more effective strategies for early detection, prevention, and treatment of colon cancer, but also highlight the importance of oral hygiene.
According to (VNA) - VT
