Colorectal Cancer and Altered Gut Microbiota

Is this the reason that people who consume a diet high in fibre from fruit and vegetables and a lower in animal fat and protein (both animal fat and protein diets attract bacteriodes) have a lower incidence of colon cancer?  It would seem that it is every bit as important to provide the food for our microbiota to thrive on as it is to feed ourselves.  We and our microbiota would appear to benefit mutually from the same types of food - it's not just about nutrition, it's about feeding our "helpful friends" as well!


The Differences in Colonic Mucosal Microbiota Between Normal Individual and Colon Cancer Patients by Polymerase Chain Reaction-denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

Authors: Huipeng, Wang MD; Lifeng, Gong MD; Chuang, Ge MD; Jiaying, Zhao MD; Yuankun, Cai MD

Abstract


Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in the intestinal composition between normal individuals and colon cancer patients.

Methods: To establish the criteria for screening a normal individual for colon cancer, human colonic biopsies were obtained at routine colonoscopy. For patients with colon cancer, samples were obtained from cancerous regions. For normal individuals, colonic biopsies were taken from 3 sites of large intestine (descending, transverse, and ascending colon). Thereafter, a comparison of the microbiota structure by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was carried out. At last, bacterial species were identified by sequencing special bands from DGGE gels and comparing data with sequence databases.

Result: With PCR-DGGE, we have discovered that the diversity and richness of the bacterial community from colon cancer patient’s colonic mucosa were lower than that of the normal individual’s sample. Then, a special DGGE band was found in the colon cancer patients. After sequencing, we confirmed that it had a high level of similarity with bacteroides.

Conclusions: Colon cancers are closely related with the alteration of intestinal flora such as the reduction of biodiversity and richness of the bacterial community. Furthermore, the increase in proportion of bacteroides may be directly associated with colon cancer.
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology:
February 2014 - Volume 48 - Issue 2 - p 138-144
doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e3182a26719
ALIMENTARY TRACT: Original Articles

Multiple Sclerosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant

With World MS Day being 29th May, it seems appropriate to post a link to a previous entry about Multiple Sclerosis and Fecal Transplant.

The link is to three case studies from Centre of Digestive Diseases, Sydney Australia (Professor Borody).   Three of his patients who had multiple sclerosis were treated for constipation (one of the many complications of this terrible disease) and to their's and Professor Borody's surprise, their MS symptoms unexpectedly also disappeared, so much so that as at the time of writing the study all patients remained in remission, one of them for 15 years!  Professor Borody speculates that a gut pathogen may be responsible for causing the neurological disease and encourages a new direction in medical research of MS.

http://www.fecalmicrobiotatransplant.com/2012/08/could-multiple-sclerosis-be-caused-by.html

Could Multiple Sclerosis Be Caused By Bacteria?

TITLE: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

AUTHORS/INSTITUTIONS:

T.J. Borody, S.M. Leis, J.L. Campbell, M. Torres, A. Nowak, , Centre for

Digestive Diseases, Five Dock, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA;

ABSTRACT BODY:

Purpose:

Recent evidence implicates the GI microbiota in the progression of neurological diseases such as Parkinsons Disease 1, Multiple Sclerosis and Myasthenia Gravis 2. We report three patients with MS diagnoses who achieved durable symptom reversal with FMT for constipation.

Methods:

Case study observations on three MS cases

 

Results:

Case 1: A 30 yr old male with constipation, vertigo and impaired concentration and a concomitant history of MS and trigeminal neuralgia. Neurological symptoms included severe leg weakness and he required a wheelchair and an indwelling urinary catheter. Previous failed treatments included Mexiletine,

Tryptanol and 9-interferon. The patient underwent 5 FMT infusions for his constipation, with its complete resolution. Interestingly his MS also progressively improved, regaining the ability to walk and facilitating the removal of his catheter. Initially seen as a ‘remission’, the patient remains well 15 yrs post-FMT without relapse.

 

Case 2: A 29 yr old wheelchair-bound male with ‘atypical MS’ diagnosis and severe, chronic constipation. He reported parasthesia and leg muscle weakness. The patient received 10 days of FMT infusions which resolved his constipation. He also noted progressive improvement in neurological symptoms, regaining the

ability to walk following slow resolution of leg parasthesia. Three years on the patient maintains normal motor, urinary and GI function.

Case 3: An 80 yr old female presented with severe chronic constipation, proctalgia fugax and severe muscular weakness resulting in difficulty walking, diagnosed as ‘atypical’ MS. She received 5 FMT infusions with rapid improvement of constipation and increased energy levels. At eight months she reported completere solution of bowel symptoms and neurological improvement, now walking long distances unassisted. Two years post-FMT, the patient was asymptomatic.

Conclusion:

We report reversal of major neurological symptoms in three patients after FMT for their underlying GI symptoms. As MS can follow a relapsing-remitting course, this unexpected discovery was not reported until considerable time had passed to confirm prolonged remission. It is tempting to speculate that

FMT achieved eradication of an occult GI pathogen driving MS symptoms.

Our finding that FMT can reverse MS-like symptoms suggests a GI infection underpinning these disorders. It is hoped that such serendipitous findings may encourage a new direction in neurological research.

 

CONTROL ID: 1147679

 

ABSTRACT FINAL ID: P1111;

References

1. Borody et al Am J Gast 2009;104:S367

2. Gower-Rousseau et al Am J Gast 1993;88;1136
Abstract