The DOI matches its Crossref record; 169 of the 170 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Gut microbiota, inflammation and colorectal cancer
Open accessAbstract
Although genes contribute to colorectal cancer, the gut microbiota are an important player. Accumulating evidence suggests that chronic infection and the ensuing inflammation contributes to tumor initiation and tumor progression. A variety of bacterial species and tumor-promoting virulence mechanisms have been investigated. Significant advances have been made in understanding the composition and functional capabilities of the gut microbiota and its roles in cancer. In the current review, we discuss the novel roles of microbiota in the progression of colon cancer. Although microbiota technically include organisms other than bacteria e.g., viruses and fungi, this review will primarily focus on bacteria. We summarize epidemiological studies of human microbiome and colon cancer. We discuss the progress in the scientific understanding of the interplay between the gut microbiota, barrier function, and host responses in experimental models. Further, we discuss the potential application in prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of colon cancer by targeting microbiota. We discuss the challenges lie ahead and the future direction in studying gut microbiome in colon cancer to close the gap between the basic sciences and clinical application.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Strategies to detect specific bacteria or bacterial DNA sequences might be used in screening for early-stage colorectal adenomas or carcinomas.60, 61”
From Influence of the Gut Microbiome, Diet, and Environment on Risk of Colorectal Cancer (2020) · cites this paper as [60]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
1 retracted
Duca, F. A., Sakar, Y., Lepage, P., Devime, F., Goustard, B., Dore, J. M., & Covașă, M. (2014) · Diabetes · doi:10.2337/db13-1526 · Cited by 169
RetractedCancer incidence and mortality worldwide: Sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012
Ferlay, J., Soerjomataram, I., Dikshit, R., Eser, S., Mathers, C., Rebelo, M., Parkin, D. M., Forman, D., & Bray, F. (2015) · International Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1002/ijc.29210 · Cited by 28,766
Coussens, L. M., & Werb, Z. (2002) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature01322 · Cited by 15,111
An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest
Turnbaugh, P. J., Ley, R. E., Mahowald, M. A., Magrini, V., Mardis, E. R., & Gordon, J. I. (2006) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature05414 · Cited by 12,444 · cited 1×
“While low energy diet induces change in microbial compositions increasing gene richness,(107) microbiome itself also contributes energy harvest to the host, as demonstrated in mice models where transfer of obese microbiome to lean animals led to an increase in body adiposity in a diet dependent manner.(108,109) Other…”
BackgroundDiet rapidly and reproducibly alters the human gut microbiome
David, L. A., Maurice, C. F., Carmody, R. N., Gootenberg, D. B., Button, J. E., Wolfe, B. E., Ling, A. V., Devlin, A. S., Varma, Y., Fischbach, M. A., et al. (2014) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature12820 · Cited by 10,100 · cited 1×
“Although meat intake itself has been rarely studied, removal of animal products (vegan diet) was recently tested in a few clinical trials, showing changes in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and abundance of bacteria capable of triggering inflammation.(112,113) Moreover, as discussed above, meats are one of the susp…”
BackgroundDiversity of the Human Intestinal Microbial Flora
Eckburg, P. B., Bik, E. M., Bernstein, C. N., Purdom, E., Dethlefsen, L., Sargent, M., Gill, S. R., Nelson, K. E., & Relman, D. A. (2005) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1110591 · Cited by 7,913
A core gut microbiome in obese and lean twins
Turnbaugh, P. J., Hamady, M., Yatsunenko, T., Cantarel, B. L., Duncan, A., Ley, R. E., Sogin, M. L., Jones, W. J., Roe, B. A., Affourtit, J. P., et al. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature07540 · Cited by 7,823 · cited 1×
“Obese and lean individuals are known to harbor different types of gut microbiota.(106) While low energy diet induces change in microbial compositions increasing gene richness,(107) microbiome itself also contributes energy harvest to the host, as demonstrated in mice models where transfer of obese microbiome to lean a…”
BackgroundSokol, H., Pigneur, B., Watterlot, L., Lakhdari, O., Bermúdez-Humarán, L. G., Gratadoux, J.-J., Blugeon, S., Bridonneau, C., Furet, J.-P., Corthier, G., et al. (2008) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0804812105 · Cited by 4,413
Commensal Bifidobacterium promotes antitumor immunity and facilitates anti–PD-L1 efficacy
Sivan, A., Corrales, L., Hubert, N., Williams, J. B., Aquino-Michaels, K., Earley, Z. M., Benyamin, F. W., Man Lei, Y., Jabri, B., Alegre, M.-L., et al. (2015) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aac4255 · Cited by 3,888
Regulation of inflammatory responses by gut microbiota and chemoattractant receptor GPR43
Maslowski, K. M., Vieira, A. T., Ng, A., Kranich, J., Sierro, F., Yu, D., Schilter, H. C., Rolph, M. S., Mackay, F., Artis, D., et al. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08530 · Cited by 3,241 · cited 2×
“Another bacterial product Peptidoglycan (PTGN) modulates peripheral immune function via a patternrecognition receptor, oligomerization domain-containing protein-1 (NOD1) and depletion of the microbiota in mice.(133) Lower systemic PTGN concentration leads to less ability to kill certain bacterial pathogens.”
Background
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 170 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- WCRF/AICR, 2011, Continuous update project report: food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of colorectal cancer, Colorectal Cancer 2011 Rep Lond WCRF/AICR, 1
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–255 of 255
Recent progress in metal-based drugs for colorectal cancer therapy
Liu, X., Zhang, Q., Yang, X., Liang, J., He, Y., Chao, H., & Pan, Y. (2026) · Coordination Chemistry Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2026.217971 · Cited by 3
Gut Microbiome Profiles in Colorectal Cancer Patients in Iraq
Kadhim, F., Aziz, Z. S., & Ibrahim, K. S. (2025) · Microbiology Research · doi:10.3390/microbiolres16010022 · Cited by 3
Pan, L., Wang, X., Yang, B., Liu, Y., & Tang, D. (2025) · Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis · doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2025.116802 · Cited by 3
Dadashi, M., Sahebi, A., Arjmand-Teymouri, R., Mirzaii, M., Mousavian, M., & Yaslianifard, S. (2022) · Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases · doi:10.5812/archcid-116165 · Cited by 3
“Studies also show that the abundance of bacteria and bifidobacteria reduces the risk of colon polyps (38, 39).”
The Relationship between the Gut Microbiota and Exercise: A Narrative Review
Domínguez-Balmaseda, D., & García-Pérez-de-Sevilla, G. (2022) · Hygiene · doi:10.3390/hygiene2040014 · Cited by 3
“Although there are also bacteria in smaller proportions that are vital for the function of the microbiota, Firmicutes and Bacteriodetes stand out due to their proportion throughout the intestinal tract, as they represent 60% and 20%, respectively, of all the gut microbiota, while the Proteobacteria phylum covers 5% an…”
BackgroundCarvalho, R. D. D. O., Carmo, F. L. R. D., da Silva, S. H., Cordeiro, B. F., Vaz, A. B. M., Gimenez, E. G. T., Goulart, L., Goés‐Neto, A., Loir, Y. L., Jan, G., et al. (2018) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/intechopen.72031 · Cited by 4
“Different from other kinds of cancer affecting the large bowel which are caused by point mutations in several genes that control cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and migration [60], CRC is mostly attributed to environmental factors and lifestyle such as high fat diet, alcohol, red meat, smoking, obesity,…”
BackgroundSatuman, S., Sari, D. S., Rachmi, E., Tanggo, E. H., Notobroto, H. B., Sudiana, K., Mubarika, S., Rantam, F. A., Soemarno, S., & Wasito, E. B. (2021) · Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences · doi:10.3889/oamjms.2021.4945 · Cited by 3
“Colorectal cancer is triggered by several factors including carcinogenic chemicals, ultraviolet light, viruses, and bacteria facilitating gene mutations [2].”
BackgroundCharacteristics of gut microbiota in high-methylated colorectal cancer
Saito, T., Karasawa, H., Ouchi, K., Ono, T., Kajiwara, T., Kohyama, A., Ikeda‐Ohtsubo, W., Fukuda, S., Fujishima, F., Ozawa, Y., et al. (2025) · International Journal of Clinical Oncology · doi:10.1007/s10147-025-02812-3 · Cited by 2
“Prevotella stercorea and Alistipes finegoldii have been linked to CRC development [45, 46], and Blautia obeum is more enriched in CRC tissues than in normal mucosal tissues [47].”
Byrd, D. A., Gómez, M. F. L., Hogue, S., Burns, J. R., Smith, N., Sampson, J. N., Loftfield, E., Wolf, P. G., Wan, Y., Warner, A., et al. (2025) · Cancer Medicine · doi:10.1002/cam4.71048 · Cited by 2
“It is possible that oral bacteria could have different associations with precursors of CRC than colorectal tumors [34].”
Prevalence and association of pks+ Escherichia coli with colorectal cancer in Iraqi patients
Hassan, R. A., Mahmood, S. S., & Askar, B. A. (2023) · Science Archives · doi:10.47587/sa.2023.4309 · Cited by 2
“It is influenced by many risk factors, including; heredity, lifestyle, gut microbiota, diet, obesity, and other factors (Sun and Kato, 2016).”
Impact of the microbiome on colorectal cancer development
Chorawala, M. R., Postwala, H. I., Prajapati, B. G., Shah, Y. B., Shah, A. C., Pandya, A. J., & Kothari, N. R. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-13870-6.00021-0 · Cited by 2
Onyeaghala, G. C., Sharma, S., Oyenuga, M., Staley, C. M., Milne, G. L., Demmer, R. T., Shaukat, A., Thyagarajan, B., Straka, R. J., Church, T. R., et al. (2024) · Microorganisms · doi:10.3390/microorganisms12081609 · Cited by 2
Cui, H., Yang, H., Qi, X., Zhao, Y. C., Huang, T., & Miao, L. (2024) · Veterinary Sciences · doi:10.3390/vetsci11110545 · Cited by 2
Bakır-Güngör, B., Temiz, M., Canakcimaksutoglu, B., & Yousef, M. (2025) · Computers in Biology and Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.109813 · Cited by 2
Walencik, P. K. (2022) · Dalton Transactions · doi:10.1039/d2dt02398a · Cited by 2
Role of the Microbiome in the Formation and Development of Colorectal Cancer
Zwinsova, B., Brychtová, V., Hrivňáková, M., Dubská, L. Z., Bencsiková, B., Nenutil, R., Vídeňská, P., & Budínská, E. (2019) · Klinicka onkologie · doi:10.14735/amko2019261 · Cited by 3
Indrawati, I., Safitri, F. A. L., & Rossiana, N. (2020) · IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science · doi:10.1088/1755-1315/457/1/012048 · Cited by 2
Therapeutic impact of probiotics in various aspects
Megeed, R. M. A. (2022) · Egyptian Pharmaceutical Journal · doi:10.4103/epj.epj_66_21 · Cited by 2
Association between oral nutrition and inflammation after intestinal transplantation
Ravella, S. (2024) · Human Immunology · doi:10.1016/j.humimm.2024.110809 · Cited by 1
Li, J., & Dong, B. (2026) · Microbiology Spectrum · doi:10.1128/spectrum.00336-25 · Cited by 1
“The mechanisms by which gut microbiota influence CRC include modulation of immune responses, production of metabolites that can promote or inhibit tumor growth, and the potential to induce inflammation, which is a known risk factor for cancer (9, 10).”
Kaur, K. K., Allahbadia, G., & Singh, M. (2022) · Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences · doi:10.29169/1927-5951.2022.12.04 · Cited by 1
Kothari, V., Joshi, C., Patel, P., Shahi, D., Mehta, C., Prajapati, B., Patel, S. J., Mandaliya, D. K., & Seshadri, S. (2018) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-813667-6.00008-5 · Cited by 1
Colorectal cancer and the microbiome: dysplasia, probiotics, and Fusobacterium nucleatum
Walker, W. A. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819672-4.00005-2 · Cited by 1
Pitchumoni, C. S. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-30192-7_80 · Cited by 1
Models of Murine Vaginal Colonization by Anaerobically Grown Bacteria
Morrill, S. R., Agarwal, K., Saha, S., Lewis, W. G., Gilbert, N. M., & Lewis, A. L. (2022) · Journal of Visualized Experiments · doi:10.3791/64032-v · Cited by 1
Azour, A., Al-Bayssari, C., & Rolain, J. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4863297 · Cited by 1
Indrawati, I., Safitri, F. A. L., & Rossiana, N. (2019) · AIP conference proceedings · doi:10.1063/1.5115760
Nutrition, the Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Cancer Prevention
Lopes, R. G., do Prado, S. B. R., & Fabi, J. P. (2019) · Royal Society of Chemistry eBooks · doi:10.1039/9781788016506-00261
Immune Targets in Colorectal Cancer
Dariya, B., & Nagaraju, G. P. (2020) · Diagnostics and therapeutic advances in GI malignancies · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-6487-1_12
Intratumor Bacterial Presence and Serum Amyloid A in Colorectal CancerPreprint
de Waal, G. M., de Villiers, W. J. S., Rigby, J., Roberts, T. J., & Pretorius, E. (2021) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-403105/v1
Non-AIDS defining malignancies among HIV-infected patients
Anejo-Okopi, J. A., Onywera, H., Omale, S., & Audu, O. (2021) · HIV & AIDS Review · doi:10.5114/hivar.2021.109648
“Microbes are becoming an emerging contributor to carcinogenesis, and about 20% of the global cancer burden is linked to infectious pathogens [49], which are known to alter the host cell proliferation, thereby hindering the antitumor immune response and influencing the metabolic barrier of host-produced factors [50].”
BackgroundPitchumoni, C. S. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90761-1_80-1
Targeting Pathogenic Inflammation for Therapeutic Intervention Against Colon Cancer
Fleecs, J. D., Abrham, E., Kuntz, M., Khan, M. N., & Mathur, R. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-72702-4_9
Levonorgestrel and Desogestrel Modulate Gut Microbiota and Blood Biochemistry of Female Wistar Rats
Al-Gham, M. A., Baothma, O. A., Afzal, M., Alzarea, S. I., Anwar, F., Nad, M. S., & Kazmi, I. A. (2022) · International Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.3923/ijp.2022.826.841
Host–Microbiome Interactions in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Sun, J. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-19-4492-5_10
Zhestkov, A. V., Khalitova, Y. A., & Myakisheva, Y. V. (2023) · ASTRAKHAN MEDICAL JOURNAL · doi:10.17021/1992-6499-2023-3-33-42
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Evidence and Future Directions
Mokhtarpour, K., Akbarzadehmoallemkolaei, M., & Rezaei, N. (2024) · Interdisciplinary cancer research · doi:10.1007/16833_2024_419
Microbiome and colorectal cancer drug resistance
Miya, T. V., Belancio, V. P., & Dlamini, Z. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-33475-7.00016-0
Li, Z., & Nie, Q. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-21630-5.00011-3
Nanocarriers in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer
Wal, A., Wal, P., Singh, D., & Singh, M. R. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-24806-1.00024-8
Obesity-related microbial dysbiosis as a potential modulator of tumour progression
Gnanasekar, A., Mokhashi, O., Chakladar, J., Li, W. T., Karin, M., Uzelac, M., & Ongkeko, W. M. (2025) · Access Microbiology · doi:10.1099/acmi.0.001055.v4
Yuk, J. S., Yang, S.-W., Yoon, S.-H., Kim, M. H., Seo, Y.-S., Lee, Y., Kim, J., Yang, K., Gwak, G., & Cho, H. (2023) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.24223775
Cui, W., Gao, H., Zhu, L., Xia, W., Xu, Y., & Haipeng, L. (2026) · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119788
Song, J. S., Jung, Y. K., Kweon, S., Kang, S.-H., Yim, H. J., Shin, S. K., Choi, G. H., Jang, E. S., Lee, H. L., Lee, S. W., et al. (2026) · Gut Pathogens · doi:10.1186/s13099-026-00799-4
“Colorectal cancer is well known to be accompanied by profound alterations in gut microbial composition and barrier function, both of which may facilitate microbial translocation into the portal circulation [29].”
Role of the gut microbiome in the development of colorectal cancer
Shanbhag, A. P. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-40483-2.00040-6
Jacqueline, C. M. (2017) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/d539649bz1298z4794zab28z3d5d7540c85f
Gamal, A. A., Ezzat, A., Ismail, S. A., Nour, S. A., Mahmoud, K. M., Hashem, A. M., & Esawy, M. A. (2026) · Food Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149339
Lin, Y., Barandouzi, Z. A., Houser, M. C., Xiao, C., Alese, O. B., Mathebula, S., Bai, J., Gbolahan, O. B., & Bruner, D. W. (2026) · Biological Research For Nursing · doi:10.1177/10998004261447509
“Reduced microbial diversity has been consistently linked to systemic in fl ammation, treatment toxicity, and poor cancer outcomes, suggesting a possible mechanistic pathway through which CRC and treatment may in fl uence symptom burden and overall health (Li et al., 2022; Sun & Kato, 2016).”
Wang, S., Lv, J., Wang, L., & Cao, X. (2026) · Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · doi:10.3389/fcimb.2026.1859485
Qi, Z., Qi, P., Tang, H., & Qi, P. (2026) · Phenomics · doi:10.1007/s43657-025-00243-8
“…the NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, and other oncogenic pathways to promote tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis interleukin-22 signaling cascade via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-dependent mechanisms, establishing a pro-tumoral inflammatory milieu (Sun and Kato 2016).”
Truong, V., Rarison, R. H. G., Song, E.-J., Nam, Y., Hong, Y.-S., & Jeong, W. (2026) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5c17732
A prospective case-control study of the gut bacteriome and mycobiome in glioblastomaPreprint
Herz, M., Schmid, K., Ankenbrand, M. J., Roth, E., Huenniger, K., Guendermann, N., Nickl, R., Kessler, A. F., Cattaneo, A., Monoranu, C. M., et al. (2026) · medRxiv · doi:10.64898/2026.09.23.26363766
Gut Microbial Topology and Metabolic Signatures Associated With Colorectal Neoplasia
Song, K., Qin, Y., Luo, J., Liu, L., Luo, C., Qiu, Y., Zhong, Y., 钟焕姿, Wu, K., Ni, M., et al. (2026) · Advanced Science · doi:10.1002/advs.77991 · Cited by 1
“Altered microbial topology may be associated with CRN development through metabolite-mediated host responses, such as epithelial barrier disruption, chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and carcinogenic signaling [ 78–82 ].”
Metadata
- Authors
- Sun, J., & Kato, I.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Chicago (US)
- Wayne State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sun, Jun
- ORCID
- Venue
- Genes & Diseases
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-06
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 130-143
- ISSN
- 2352-3042 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5221561
- OpenAlex
- W2338446464
- Cited by
- 257
- References
- 170
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 14
- FWCI
- 12.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Genes & Diseases (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01 DK105118)
- Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Keywords
- gut microbiota, colorectal cancer, inflammation, tumor progression, chronic infection, bacterial virulence factors, host-microbe interactions, intestinal barrier function, cancer prevention, cancer diagnosis
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
