Microbial Community Profiling Distinguishes Left-Sided and Right-Sided Colon Cancer

• Published in: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology Vol. 10; p. 498502
• Main Authors: Zhong, Mengya, Xiong, Yubo, Ye, Zhijian, Zhao, Jiabao, Zhong, Lifeng, Liu, Yu, Zhu, Yuekun, Tian, Lantian, Qiu, Xingfeng, Hong, Xuehui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 26.11.2020
• Subjects: Bifidobacterium; Cellular and Infection Microbiology; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms - microbiology; Female; Functional Laterality; gut microbiota; Humans; left-sided colon cancer; Male; Microbiota; morbidity; right-sided colon cancer; targeted drug therapy; right-sided colon cancer; morbidity; targeted drug therapy; gut microbiota; left-sided colon cancer
• ISSN: 2235-2988; 2235-2988
• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.498502

The difference between left- and right-sided colon cancer has become the focus of global attention, and researchers have found differences in the morbidity, molecular biological characteristics, and response to targeted drug therapy between left- and right-sided colon cancer. Therefore, the identification of more effective predictive indicators is critical for providing guidance to future clinical work. We collected samples from different colon sites and regions and analyzed the identities and distributions of differentially expressed species in the microbiota in the left and right sides of the colon to better explore the pathogenesis of colon cancer and provided a basis for individualized drug therapy. We collected samples from different regions in the body of 40 patients with colon cancer, including stool and tissues. The Subjects were classified into four groups, and this classification was mainly based on the colon cancer distribution. The microbiota composition of the left-sided and right-sided colon samples was assessed by specifically amplifying the V3-V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene from DNA extracts from the samples. These amplicons were examined by Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing. The microbial taxa in the left-sided colon samples are more abundant than those in the right-sided colon samples. The flora in the left-sided colon samples, such as and , might be associated with VEGF expression and are more likely to promote colon cancer. The microbiota distribution in the right-sided colon samples is less invasive and harmful and particularly rich in . In addition, , which is the target of EGFR, was found to be expressed in both the left- and right-sided colon samples but was found at a higher level in the left-sided colon samples. Additionally, the differential pathways involved in the left-sided colon samples mainly mediate DNA damage, methylation, and histone modifications, whereas those in the right-sided colon samples are dominated by DNA synthesis. The comparison of only the geographical differences revealed a significant difference in the distribution of the microbial population. The adherent microbiota composition and structural changes between the left- and right-sided colon samples might contribute to the development of colon cancer, lead to different morbidities, and further affect the prognosis of patients and their sensitivity to targeted drugs. Therefore, the identification of the differential flora in the colon could be used as an indicator for predicting the occurrence and development of colon cancer, which is also beneficial for future individualized drug therapy.