Association of gut microbiota with the colorectal adenoma–carcinoma sequence and its diagnostic potential: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18243340Keywords:
gastrointestinal microbiome, adenoma, colorectal neoplasms, dysbiosisAbstract
Introduction: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its development through the adenoma–carcinoma sequence is closely linked to alterations in the gut microbiota, whose dysbiosis may induce inflammatory, genotoxic and metabolic processes that favor carcinogenesis.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guideline, searching PubMed, LILACS and SciELO for publications between 2019 and 2024. Human studies analyzing the gut microbiota along the normal–adenoma–carcinoma sequence using 16S rRNA gene sequencing or metagenomics were included. Experimental studies, narrative reviews and papers without comparative groups were excluded.
Results: Of 4,000 records identified, 27 met the inclusion criteria. Findings showed a progressive decrease in alpha diversity and a significant alteration in beta diversity, with enrichment of proinflammatory bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and a reduction of butyrate-producing commensals such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Roseburia. Vogtmann et al. (2025) identified similar associations in prospective cohorts in the United States, where altered oral profiles were related to higher colorectal cancer risk, particularly in the distal colon and rectum.
Conclusion: Intestinal dysbiosis is confirmed as a determining factor in adenoma–carcinoma progression, characterized by loss of protective functions and predominance of potentially oncogenic bacteria. These findings support the potential of the microbiome as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in colorectal cancer prevention and early detection strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ivanir Aparecida Sartori Braga , Hudson Dantas Braga , Elson Veras Ribeiro, Andressa Da Silva Reis, Angelica Brum Carlota Da Silva Rocha, San Hartwig Gomes , Yuri Rodrigues Borges, Andrea Paola Britos Gómez (Autor/a)
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