Researchers have found that KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer are associated with microbial signatures in the gut. About 40% of people with colorectal cancer have a KRAS mutation, which is linked to shorter survival and more aggressive forms of the disease. Imbalances in the gut microbiome have also been connected to the onset and growth of CRC tumors. However, the relationship between gut dysbiosis and KRAS mutations is not well understood.
A recent study in Microbiology Spec rnrnThe American Society for Microbiology’s open access journal, mBio, has published a study conducted by researchers in China that has identified microbiota signatures associated with KRAS mutations in individuals with colorectal cancer. The results indicate that gut microbes may potentially be used as a non-invasive biomarker to identify different CRC subtypes and may help in developing personalized treatment approaches, according to Zigui Huang, a medical student at Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital who was involved in the research.
The study, led by Dr. Weizhong Tang, an oncologist at the same hospital, focuses on utilizing molecular knowledge of CRC for improved therapy.The research of Tang and his team focuses on the importance of microbiota-driven mechanisms in the development and treatment of cancer. According to the World Health Organization, over 2 million individuals are diagnosed with colorectal cancer annually, with more than 900,000 deaths attributed to the disease. Globally, colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Previous research has established a link between imbalances in gut bacteria and the onset and progression of colorectal cancer. This emphasizes the need for further investigation into the microbial populations in the gut in the context of colorectal cancer.RC has the potential to provide new insights into diagnosing and treating conditions such as CRC, according to Huang, who emphasized the importance of understanding the specific connections between various KRAS mutations and CRC. This understanding is crucial for identifying biomarkers for diagnosis and disease progression, as well as for revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC development. In their recent study, the researchers utilized 16s rRNA sequencing to analyze stool samples from 94 individuals with CRC, 24 of whom had KRAS gene mutations and the remaining 70 had the non-mutated form of the gene. The sequencing results uncovered 26 different types of gut microbiota.There were differences in the types of bacteria present in each group. The genera Fusobacterium, Clostridium and Shewanella were more common in the mutant group. Fusobacterium is a type of bacteria that is found in the gastrointestinal tract and the mouth, and previous research has linked it to the development of CRC. The researchers suggested that all three of these bacteria could be used as non-invasive biomarkers to determine a patient’s KRAS status. On the other hand, Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia were more abundant in samples from patients without a KRAS mutation. Bifidobacterium is a probiotic, and Akkermansia has.In previous studies, certain bacteria have demonstrated probiotic activities, such as reducing pro-inflammatory factors in the colon. This discovery leads researchers to believe that the presence of these bacteria may decrease the likelihood of developing a KRAS mutation and potentially slow the progression of CRC.
The researchers also presented a machine learning model in the same paper, which could potentially use this information to provide personalized treatment recommendations based on microbiota signatures. However, Huang noted that the model would need data from a larger group of people to enhance its effectiveness. The team intends to carry out larger studies to confirm the findings.Researchers are working to better understand the significance of the gut microbiota they have identified in order to improve treatment for CRC patients, according to findings. The study aligns with broader research on understanding the interplay between genetic mutations, the tumor microenvironment, and gut microbiota in colorectal cancer, said Tang. The study was published in the Journal Reference by Zigui Huang, Xiaoliang Huang, Yili Huang, Kunmei Liang, Lei Chen, Chuzhuo Zhong, Yingxin Chen, Chuanbin Chen, Zhen Wang, Fuhai He, Mingjian Qin, Chenyan Long, Binzhe Tang, Yongqi Huang, Yongzhi Wu, Xianwei Mo, and Tang Weiz.Hong, Jungang Liu conducted a study on the identification of KRAS mutation-associated gut microbiota in colorectal cancer and the construction of a predictive machine learning model. The study was published in Microbiology Spectrum in 2024 with a DOI of 10.1128/spectrum.02720-23.