New research indicates a potential link between a prevalent oral bacteria, commonly found in tooth plaque, and the occurrence of treatment-resistant colorectal cancer.
The study discovered Fusobacterium nucleatum in 50% of tumors, which seems to protect tumor cells from cancer-fighting medications, according to NBC News.
Around 1,880,725 people worldwide were diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020. There are 732,210 rectal cancer cases and 1,148,515 colon cancer cases, per Cancer.Net. American Cancer Society predicts colon cancer will kill over 53,000 Americans in 2024, making it the second highest cause of cancer deaths.
Researchers have been searching for the cause of the relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer treatment resistance. They pointed out that once the oral bacteria passes through the digestive system, it often infiltrates colon tumor cells.
(Photo : NIH Image Gallery from Bethesda, Maryland, USA/Wikimedia Commons)
Human colon cancer cells with the cell nuclei stained red and the protein E-cadherin stained green.
Bacteria Protects Cancer Cells from Drugs
Experts examined the microorganisms in over 200 colorectal cancers and stool samples from over 1,200 patients, half of whom were healthy.
They discovered the microorganism was more complex than expected. One of its two subspecies protects colorectal cancers from cancer-fighting medications.
Researchers detected two subspecies of Fusobacterium nucleatum, one of which may protect colorectal tumors against cancer drugs. These subtypes modify cancer cells' immunological responses, making them less sensitive to chemotherapy and raising recurrence risk. Usually, T-cells assault cancerous cells. But this bacterium attracts another immune cell into cancer cells allowing them to sidestep T-cells.
The findings may influence antibacterial and targeted therapies. Furthermore, better knowledge of Fusobacterium nucleatum's function in colorectal cancer may enhance screening techniques that may reveal oral bacteria as a risk factor for colorectal cancer.
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Navy Beans Can Help Fight Colon Cancer
On a positive note, another recent clinical experiment showed that colon cancer survivors' well-being may be markedly enhanced by including navy beans in their diets. TechTimes reported that researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ran a study that showed favorable changes in the gut flora in those who regularly had a cup of navy beans in their meals.
Small in size and white in color, navy beans are a great source of gut-friendly fibers, amino acids, and other nutrients that promote the formation of good gut flora. According to Health Day, gut microbiota changes may prevent cancer and improve treatment success.
As an assistant professor at MD Anderson, main researcher Carrie Daniel-MacDougall said, "The study highlighted the potential benefits of dietary interventions alone in improving gut health," Due to a rise in good bacteria that outnumber bad bacteria, individuals saw an improvement in their gut microbiota over eight weeks.
There were 48 obese men and women over 30 with cancer-related gastrointestinal symptoms in the experiment. Colon cancer affected 75 percent of the patients; the other people had high-risk precancerous polyps. Researchers randomly assigned participants to eat a cup of cooked navy beans every day or their usual diet.
