Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Biology, Am.C, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran.
2
3. Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
3
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
4
Department of Biology, Am.C, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran
10.22034/ijmcm.2025.2009835.1332
Abstract
Disturbances in the composition of the gut microbiota are associated with the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Alterations in mucosa-associated bacterial communities may predispose to cancer. This cross-sectional study analyzed colonic mucosal samples from 77 participants 44 healthy controls, 26 patients with polyps, and 7 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases. Total bacterial count was estimated using serial dilution and Neubauer chamber methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16), applying ANOVA and chi-square tests. The mean bacterial load in the intestinal mucosa of patients with colorectal cancer, precancerous lesions and healthy subjects was 3.5×10¹¹, 3.8×10¹¹ and 3.4×10¹¹ CFU/ml, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups (p>0.05). In contrast, patients with multiple polyps (p=0.001) and patients harboring Verrucomicrobiota showed significantly higher total bacterial burden (p=0.03). Total mucosal bacterial counts were not significantly different between CRC, precancerous, and healthy groups; however, the higher bacterial burden observed in patients with multiple polyps and in individuals with Verrucomicrobiota suggests that the presence of specific microbes, rather than the total bacterial burden, may play a more critical role in colorectal carcinogenesis.
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