Cited by 355Gut microbiota and healthNutritional Studies and DietColorectal Cancer Screening and Detection

Environmental Factors, Gut Microbiota, and Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Open access
Song, Mingyang, Chan, Andrew T.·2019·Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Abstract

The substantial burden of colorectal cancer and increasing trend in young adults highlight the importance of lifestyle modification as a complement to screening for colorectal cancer prevention. Several dietary and lifestyle factors have been implicated in the development of colorectal cancer, possibly through the intricate metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms. Likewise, as a key metabolic and immune regulator, the gut microbiota has been recognized to play an important role in colorectal tumorigenesis. Increasing data support that environmental factors are crucial determinants for the gut microbial composition and function, whose alterations induce changes in the host gene expression, metabolic regulation, and local and systemic immune response, thereby influencing cancer development. Here, we review the epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence regarding the links between diet and lifestyle and the gut microbiota in the development of colorectal cancer. We focus on factors for which substantial data support their importance for colorectal cancer and their potential role in the gut microbiota, including overweight and obesity, physical activity, dietary patterns, fiber, red and processed meat, marine omega-3 fatty acid, alcohol, and smoking. We also briefly describe other colorectal cancer-preventive factors for which the links with the gut microbiota have been suggested but remain to be mechanistically characterized, including vitamin D status, dairy consumption, and metformin use. Given limitations in available evidence, we highlight the need for further investigations in the relationship between environmental factors, gut microbiota, and colorectal cancer, which may lead to development and clinical translation of potential microbiota-based strategies for cancer prevention.

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Authors
Song, M., & Chan, A. T.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Broad Institute (US)
Corresponding author
Song, Mingyang
Venue
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-01
Volume
17
Issue
2
Pages
275-289
ISSN
1542-3565 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2882993821
Cited by
355
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 1
FWCI
2.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • American Cancer Society (MRSG-17-220-01)
  • AACR-AstraZeneca Fellowship in Immuno-oncology Research
  • National Institutes of Health (K99 CA215314, R00 CA215314, K24 DK098311, R01 CA137178, R01 CA202704, R01 CA176726)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection
Keywords
colorectal cancer prevention, gut microbiota, environmental factors, lifestyle modification, diet, obesity, physical activity, dietary fiber, red and processed meat, omega-3 fatty acids, alcohol, smoking, vitamin D, dairy consumption, metformin, colorectal carcinogenesis, inflammation
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Host Microbial Interactions, Diet, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Life Style, Colorectal Neoplasms, Carcinogenesis, Microbiota, Dysbiosis

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