Genomic analysis identifies association of Fusobacterium with colorectal carcinoma.
The tumor microenvironment of colorectal carcinoma is a complex community of genomically altered cancer cells, nonneoplastic cells, and a diverse collection of microorganisms. Each of these components may contribute to carcinogenesis; however, the role of the microbiota is the least well understood. We have characterized the composition of the microbiota in colorectal carcinoma using whole genome sequences from nine tumor/normal pairs. Fusobacterium sequences were enriched in carcinomas, confirmed by quantitative PCR and 16S rDNA sequence analysis of 95 carcinoma/normal DNA pairs, while the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla were depleted in tumors. Fusobacteria were also visualized within colorectal tumors using FISH. These findings reveal alterations in the colorectal cancer microbiota; however, the precise role of Fusobacteria in colorectal carcinoma pathogenesis requires further investigation.
Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
Aleksandar D
AD
Kostic
Dirk
D
Gevers
Chandra Sekhar
CS
Pedamallu
Monia
M
Michaud
Fujiko
F
Duke
Ashlee M
AM
Earl
Akinyemi I
AI
Ojesina
Joonil
J
Jung
Adam J
AJ
Bass
Josep
J
Tabernero
José
J
Baselga
Chen
C
Liu
Ramesh A
RA
Shivdasani
Shuji
S
Ogino
Bruce W
BW
Birren
Curtis
C
Huttenhower
Wendy S
WS
Garrett
Matthew
M
Meyerson
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000382:microbiology; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S