Gut Microbiome Variations May Be Predictive of Precancerous Colonic Lesions, CRC (Medscape)

People with precancerous colonic lesions exhibit significant differences in their gut microbiome compared to the general population, even up to 5 years before the development of these lesions. This insight comes from a comprehensive 22-year analysis conducted by the Dutch Microbiome Project cohort study. The study suggests that the gut microbiota might play a role in the onset of colorectal lesions and cancer. Ranko Gacesa, PhD, from the Department of Gastroenterology, University of Groningen, Netherlands, presented the findings at the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2023. He emphasized the potential of gut bacteria to enhance the efficacy of noninvasive fecal tests used for detecting colorectal polyps. Furthermore, modulating the microbiome might be a preventive strategy against colorectal cancer.