Gut microbial dysbiosis and its association with esophageal cancer

Abstract

Due to its aggressive nature and low survival rate, esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancer. While the intestinal microbiome significantly influences human health and disease. This research aimed to investigate and characterize the relative abundance of intestinal bacterial composition in esophageal cancer patients. The fecal samples were collected from esophageal cancer patients (n = 15) and healthy volunteers (n = 10). The PCR-DGGE was carried out by focusing on the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene, and qPCR was performed for Bacteroides vulgatus, Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium leptum and Lactobacillus. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene targeting the V3+V4 region was performed on 20 randomly selected samples. PCR-DGGE and High-throughput diversity results showed a significant alteration of gut bacterial composition between the experimental and control groups, which indicates the gut microbial dysbiosis in esophageal cancer patients. At the phylum level, there was significant enrichment of Bacteroidetes, while a non-significant decrease of Firmicutes in the experimental group. At family statistics, a significantly higher level of Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, while a significantly lower abundance of Prevotellaceae and Veillonellaceae were observed. There was a significantly high prevalence of genera Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, while a significantly lower abundance of Prevotella_9 and Dialister in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the species analysis also showed significantly raised level of Bacteroides vulgatus and Escherichia coli in the experimental group. These findings revealed a significant gut microbial dysbiosis in esophageal cancer patients. So, the current study can be used for the understanding of esophageal cancer treatment, disease pathway, mechanism, and probiotic development.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of endoscopic ultrasonography in staging diagnosis of esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy

“…Esophageal cancer, as a common malignant tumor of digestive tract, has a high morbidity and mortality rate (1,2). Because of its insidious onset and high malignancy, patients are often in the advanced stage at the time of seeing a doctor, and sometimes other parts are found to be invaded during surgery, so radical resection cannot be performed (3)(4)(5). Therefore, it is very important to accurately evaluate the preoperative staging of patients.…”

Gut-Thyroid axis: How gut microbial dysbiosis associated with euthyroid thyroid cancer

“…[42]. Recent studies have been illustrated that gut microbiome has great importance and role in driving the different types of malignancies, including lung, breast, intestine and esophageal cancer [43,44]. The human gut microbiota role is also critical in protecting the body's defense mechanism by employing trophic activity [45].…”

Antitumor effects of fecal microbiota transplantation: Implications for microbiome modulation in cancer treatment

“…For instance, colon cancer may progress from chronic inflammation caused by dysbiosis ( 15 , 43 , 44 ). One very important recent finding indicates that patients with esophageal cancer also had dysbiosis of the gut microbiota (n = 10) ( 13 ).…”

“…The intestinal microbiome is essential in preserving the integrity of the gut barrier ( 47 ). Furthermore, the gut microbiota aids digestion, helps with vitamin production and regulates physiological functions ( 36 , 48 , 49 ), including regulation of metabolism, blood production, immune enhancement, and protection against cancer ( 13 – 15 , 36 , 50 , 51 ). Conversely dysbiosis of the microbiota can also promote tumors.…”

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