Gut Mucosal Microbiota is Associated With Colorectal Cancer Relapse

Treatments for colorectal cancer of all stages have evolved considerably over the past two decades, resulting in improved long-term outcomes. After curative treatment, however, 30% of patients with stage I-III and up to 65% of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer develop recurrent disease. The human colon plays host to a diverse and metabolically complex community of microorganisms. While the colonic microbiome has been found to contribute to the development of colorectal cancer. Investigators speculate that gut microbiota related to colorectal cancer relapse after curative treatment. Patients are routinely offered surveillance in order to detect disease recurrence at an early, asymptomatic stage, with the intention of improving survival. Nevertheless, controversy continues to surround the optimal surveillance protocols. Investigators aim to discover if any difference of gut microbiota is exist in patients who suffer from relapse compared with patients who do not. Future surveillance after colorectal cancer treatment should focus on risk-stratification and should incorporate current knowledge on risk of recurrence in relation to the biology of the tumour as well as gut microbiota feature. Finally investigators will develop patient-centred programmes of surveillance protocols base on microbiota analysis.