Cited by 377Gut microbiota and healthOral microbiology and periodontitis researchCancer Risks and Factors

Breast cancer in postmenopausal women is associated with an altered gut metagenome

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Zhu, Jia, Liao, Ming, Yao, Ziting, Liang, Wenying, Li, Qibin, Liu, Jianlun, Yang, Huawei, Ji, Yinan +11 more·2018·Microbiome

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota play a role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. The composition and functional capacity of gut microbiota associated with breast cancer have not been studied systematically. We performed a comprehensive shotgun metagenomic analysis of 18 premenopausal breast cancer patients, 25 premenopausal healthy controls, 44 postmenopausal breast cancer patients, and 46 postmenopausal healthy controls. Microbial diversity was higher in breast cancer patients than in controls. Relative species abundance in gut microbiota did not differ significantly between premenopausal breast cancer patients and premenopausal controls. In contrast, relative abundance of 45 species differed significantly between postmenopausal patients and postmenopausal controls: 38 species were enriched in postmenopausal patients, including Escherichia coli , Klebsiella sp_1_1_55 , Prevotella amnii , Enterococcus gallinarum , Actinomyces sp. HPA0247 , Shewanella putrefaciens , and Erwinia amylovora , and 7 species were less abundant in postmenopausal patients, including Eubacterium eligens and Lactobacillus vaginalis . Acinetobacter radioresistens and Enterococcus gallinarum were positively but weakly associated with expression of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Shewanella putrefaciens and Erwinia amylovora were positively but weakly associated with estradiol levels. Actinomyces sp. HPA0247 negatively but weakly correlated with CD3 + CD8 + T cell numbers. Further characterization of metagenome functional capacity indicated that the gut metagenomes of postmenopausal breast cancer patients were enriched in genes encoding lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, iron complex transport system, PTS system, secretion system, and beta-oxidation. The composition and functions of the gut microbial community differ between postmenopausal breast cancer patients and healthy controls. The gut microbiota may regulate or respond to host immunity and metabolic balance. Thus, while cause and effect cannot be determined, there is a reproducible change in the microbiota of treatment-naive patients relative to matched controls.

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  1. [53]Qin N, Yang F, Li A, Prifti E, Chen Y, Shao L, et al. Alterations of the humangut microbiome in liver cirrhosis. Nature. 2014;513:59–64. 25079328

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Authors
Zhu, J., Liao, M., Yao, Z., Liang, W., Li, Q., Liu, J., Yang, H., Ji, Y., Wei, W., Tan, A., Liang, S., Chen, Y., Lin, H., Zhu, X., Huang, S., Tian, J., Tang, R., Wang, Q., & Mo, Z.
Affiliations
  • Guangxi Medical University (CN)
  • First Affiliated Hospital of GuangXi Medical University (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Wang, Qiuyan
  • Mo, Zengnan
Venue
Microbiome
Published
2018-08-06
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
136-136
ISSN
2049-2618 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2885458712
Cited by
377
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 3
FWCI
14.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Microbiome (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (2012GXNSFBA053117)
  • Guangxi Natural Science Fund for Innovation Research Team (2013GXNSFFA019002)
  • Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for genomic and personalized medicine (201319)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81060169)
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 › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
Keywords
breast cancer, postmenopausal women, gut microbiota, gut metagenome, microbial diversity, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus gallinarum, Shewanella putrefaciens, Erwinia amylovora, Actinomyces, C-reactive protein, estradiol, CD8+ T cells, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, iron transport, fatty acid beta-oxidation, host-microbe interactions
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Adult, Bacteria, Bacterial Proteins, Breast Neoplasms, C-Reactive Protein, Estradiol, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Phylogeny, Case-Control Studies, Premenopause, Postmenopause, Gene Regulatory Networks, Metagenomics

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