Locoregional Effects of Microbiota in a Preclinical Model of Colon Carcinogenesis.

Abstract

Inflammation and microbiota are critical components of intestinal tumorigenesis. To dissect how the microbiota contributes to tumor distribution, we generated germ-free (GF)and;mice and exposed them to specific-pathogen-free (SPF) or colorectal cancer-associated bacteria. We found that colon tumorigenesis significantly correlated with inflammation in SPF-housed;, but not inmice. In contrast, small intestinal neoplasia development significantly correlated with age in both;andmice. GF;mice conventionalized by an SPF microbiota had significantly more colon tumors compared with GF mice. Gnotobiotic studies revealed that whileclinical isolates with FadA and Fap2 adhesins failed to induce inflammation and tumorigenesis,promoted tumorigenesis in the;model in a colibactin-dependent manner, suggesting colibactin is a driver of carcinogenesis. Our results suggest a distinct etiology of cancers in different locations of the gut, where colon cancer is primarily driven by inflammation and the microbiome, while age is a driving force for small intestine cancer..