Molecular Analysis of the Microbiome in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

The human gut microbiota plays a major role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Many studies have attempted to define links between microbiota residents, their function and disease development. We now have incredible molecular tools to allow us to study the gut microbiome however in order to make best use of these sophisticated approaches we need to ensure that samples are collected and processed using standardized and reproducible protocols. Here we provide an overview of molecular analysis methods and describe protocols for collecting and processing clinical samples for subsequent microbiome analysis.

Gut Microbiota Analysis in Postoperative Lynch Syndrome Patients

“…The spreading of high resolution next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has begun to elucidate the complex etiological relationship between gut microbiome and CRC and is nowadays well accepted that patients with sporadic CRC are characterized by imbalances in the composition of their gut microbiota (Liang et al, 2017; Yu et al, 2017; Clegg et al, 2018; Hale et al, 2018). Indeed, gut microorganisms can contribute to CRC development by influencing host gene expression and metabolic regulation, as well as local and systemic immune and inflammatory responses (Huycke et al, 2001; Zhang et al, 2016).…”