A bacterial mutational footprint in colorectal cancer genomes

Changes in the microbiome are associated with the development of colorectal cancer, but causal explanations have been lacking. We recently demonstrated that pks(+) Escherichia coli induce a specific mutational pattern using intestinal organoids and these mutations are present in the genomes of colorectal cancer. This finding warrants further studies on the microbial role in oncogenic mutation induction, cancer development and future preventive strategies.

Automated summary

Changes in the microbiome are linked to colorectal cancer development, with certain bacteria inducing mutational patterns present in colorectal cancer genomes. More research is needed to understand the microbial role in oncogenic mutation induction, cancer development, and preventive strategies.