title: Sporadic colorectal cancer--role of the commensal microbiota.
abstract: There are vast numbers of bacteria present within the human colon that are essential for the host's well being in terms of nutrition and mucosal immunity. While certain members of the colonic microbiota have been shown to promote the host's health there are also numerous studies that have implicated other members of the colonic microbiota in the development of colorectal cancer, a prominent malignancy within the western world. In this review we consider the evidence for the role of bacteria in colorectal cancer from molecular and animal model studies. We focus on some of the mechanisms by which the colonic microbiota drives the progression towards colorectal malignancy including generation of reactive metabolites and carcinogens, alterations in host carbohydrate expression and induction of chronic mucosal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: GI Research Group, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
authors.forename: Mairi E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.forename: Georgina L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Hold
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kain
authors.forename: Emad M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: El-Omar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species