Microbiome and colorectal cancer: A review of the past, present, and future.

Michael S Johns, Nicholas J Petrelli

Journal: Surgical oncology 2021;37():101560

PMID: 33848761

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is home to diverse and abundant microorganisms, collectively referred to as the microbiome. This ecosystem typically contains trillions of microbial cells that play an important role in regulation of human health. The microbiome has been implicated in host immunity, nutrient absorption, digestion, and metabolism. In recent years, researchers have shown that alteration of the microbiome is associated with disease development, such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. This review discusses the five decades of research into the human microbiome and the development of colorectal cancer - the historical context including experiments that sparked interest, the explosion of research that has occurred in the last decade, and finally the future of testing and treatment.

Address: Department of Surgical Oncology, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, ChristianaCare, Newark, DE, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Surgical Oncology, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, ChristianaCare, Newark, DE, USA.

DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2021.101560