Microbiota organization is a distinct feature of proximal colorectal cancers

Environmental factors clearly affect colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, but the mechanisms through which these factors function are unknown. One prime candidate is an altered colonic microbiota. Here we show that the mucosal microbiota organization is a critical factor associated with a subset of CRC. We identified invasive polymicrobial bacterial biofilms (bacterial aggregates), structures previously associated with nonmalignant intestinal pathology, nearly universally (89%) on right-sided tumors (13 of 15 CRCs, 4 of 4 adenomas) but on only 12% of left-sided tumors (2 of 15 CRCs, 0 of 2 adenomas). Surprisingly, patients with biofilm-positive tumors, whether cancers or adenomas, all had biofilms on their…

• AA
  Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust

  Award: 300-2344
• JH
  Johns Hopkins University

  Award: P30 CA006973
• IM
  Institut Mérieux
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: DK089502, P30 CA006973, T32AI007417, CA006973, DE022586, P30 DK089502, K08 DK087856
• JH
  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• SK
  Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

  Awards: P30 CA006973, CA006973