The association between Fusobacterium nucleatum and cancer colorectal: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Paola Villar-Ortega; Manuela Expósito-Ruiz; Miguel Gutiérrez-Soto; Miguel Ruiz-Cabello Jiménez; José María Navarro-Marí; José Gutiérrez-Fernández

doi:10.1016/j.eimc.2021.01.005

The association between Fusobacterium nucleatum and cancer colorectal: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2021 Feb 22:S0213-005X(21)00026-4. doi: 10.1016/j.eimc.2021.01.005. Online ahead of print.

[Article in English, Spanish]

Authors

Paola Villar-Ortega¹, Manuela Expósito-Ruiz², Miguel Gutiérrez-Soto³, Miguel Ruiz-Cabello Jiménez⁴, José María Navarro-Marí⁵, José Gutiérrez-Fernández⁶

Affiliations

¹ Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Granada-Instituto de Investigación BioSanitaria-ibs-Granada, Granada, España.
² Departamento de Bioestadística de FIBAO. Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves-Instituto de Investigación BioSanitaria-ibs-Granada, Granada, España.
³ Departamento de Urgencias, Hospital de Montilla, Montilla, Córdoba, España.
⁴ UGC de Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves-Instituto de Investigación BioSanitaria-ibs-Granada, Granada, España.
⁵ Laboratorio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves-Instituto de Investigación BioSanitaria-ibs-Granada, Granada, España.
⁶ Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Granada-Instituto de Investigación BioSanitaria-ibs-Granada, Granada, España; Laboratorio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves-Instituto de Investigación BioSanitaria-ibs-Granada, Granada, España. Electronic address: josegf@go.ugr.es.

PMID: 33632539
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2021.01.005

Abstract

Introduction: The etiological factors of colorectal cancer (CRC) are not precisely known, although genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. A possible association with Fusobacterium nucleatum may provide opportunities for an early diagnosis.

Objective: To review studies that address the association between F. nucleatum and CRC.

Methods: The MEDLINE PubMed database was searched using the terms «colorectal cancer» and «Fusobacterium nucleatum», retrieving publications published up to January 1 2020. Stata software was used for a meta-analysis.

Results: The systematic review included 57 articles. Meta-analysis results indicated a more frequent presence of F. nucleatum in CRC tumor tissue samples in comparison to control samples of healthy tissue, with an odds ratio of 4.558 (95% CI: 3.312-6.272), and in comparison, to control samples of colorectal adenomas, with an odds ratio of 3.244 (95% CI: 2.359-4.462).

Conclusion: There is a more frequent presence of F. nucleatum in the CRC. However, further studies are needed to verify this relationship.

Keywords: Chronic inflammation; Colorectal cancer; Cáncer colorrectal; Disbiosis; Dysbiosis; Fusobacterium nucleatum; Inflamación crónica; Microbiota.