Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer

Abstract. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Emerging research highlights the crucial role of the gut microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, a...

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Main Authors: Ziran Kang, Shanshan Jiang, Jing-Yuan Fang, Huimin Chen, Yuanyuan Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2025-06-01
Series:Chinese Medical Journal
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003617
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author Ziran Kang
Shanshan Jiang
Jing-Yuan Fang
Huimin Chen
Yuanyuan Ji
author_facet Ziran Kang
Shanshan Jiang
Jing-Yuan Fang
Huimin Chen
Yuanyuan Ji
author_sort Ziran Kang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Emerging research highlights the crucial role of the gut microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their metabolites, in the pathogenesis of CRC. Dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance in microbial composition, contributes to tumorigenesis through immune modulation, metabolic reprogramming, and genotoxicity. Specific bacterial species, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, along with fungal agents like Candida species, have been implicated in CRC progression. Moreover, viral factors, including Epstein–Barr virus and human cytomegalovirus, are increasingly recognized for their roles in promoting inflammation and immune evasion. This review synthesizes the latest evidence on host–microbiome interactions in CRC, emphasizing microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and bile acids, which may act as both risk factors and therapeutic agents. We further discuss the latest advances in microbiota-targeted clinical applications, including biomarker-assisted diagnosis, next-generation probiotics, and microbiome-based interventions. A deeper understanding of the role of gut microbiome in CRC pathogenesis could pave the way for diagnostic, preventive, and personalized therapeutic strategies.
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issn 0366-6999
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer
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series Chinese Medical Journal
spelling doaj-art-71ba642b8dee41dfbee85b78cfdf8d732025-08-20T03:10:07ZengWolters KluwerChinese Medical Journal0366-69992542-56412025-06-01138111266128710.1097/CM9.0000000000003617202506050-00002Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancerZiran Kang0Shanshan Jiang1Jing-Yuan Fang2Huimin Chen3Yuanyuan Ji1 Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, NHC Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200001, China2 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200001, China1 Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, NHC Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200001, China2 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200001, ChinaAbstract. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Emerging research highlights the crucial role of the gut microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their metabolites, in the pathogenesis of CRC. Dysbiosis, characterized by an imbalance in microbial composition, contributes to tumorigenesis through immune modulation, metabolic reprogramming, and genotoxicity. Specific bacterial species, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, along with fungal agents like Candida species, have been implicated in CRC progression. Moreover, viral factors, including Epstein–Barr virus and human cytomegalovirus, are increasingly recognized for their roles in promoting inflammation and immune evasion. This review synthesizes the latest evidence on host–microbiome interactions in CRC, emphasizing microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and bile acids, which may act as both risk factors and therapeutic agents. We further discuss the latest advances in microbiota-targeted clinical applications, including biomarker-assisted diagnosis, next-generation probiotics, and microbiome-based interventions. A deeper understanding of the role of gut microbiome in CRC pathogenesis could pave the way for diagnostic, preventive, and personalized therapeutic strategies.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003617
spellingShingle Ziran Kang
Shanshan Jiang
Jing-Yuan Fang
Huimin Chen
Yuanyuan Ji
Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer
Chinese Medical Journal
title Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer
title_full Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer
title_fullStr Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer
title_full_unstemmed Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer
title_short Intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer
title_sort intestinal dysbiosis and colorectal cancer
url http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003617
work_keys_str_mv AT zirankang intestinaldysbiosisandcolorectalcancer
AT shanshanjiang intestinaldysbiosisandcolorectalcancer
AT jingyuanfang intestinaldysbiosisandcolorectalcancer
AT huiminchen intestinaldysbiosisandcolorectalcancer
AT yuanyuanji intestinaldysbiosisandcolorectalcancer