Functional Characterization of Bacterial Strains Enriched in Colon Adenomas and Their Impact on Colonic Epithelial Cells
type: CreativeWork
description: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. It arises from the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in the epithelial cells lining the colon or rectum, often evolving from precancerous lesions such as adenomatous polyps. Lifestyle factors—including diet, obesity, and physical inactivity—as well as hereditary predispositions contribute significantly to CRC risk. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the role of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer development and progression. The intestinal microbiota, a complex and dynamic community of microorganisms, is essential for maintaining gut homeostasis, immune function, and metabolic balance. Dysbiosis—an imbalance in microbial composition—has been linked to CRC through mechanisms such as chronic inflammation, production of carcinogenic metabolites, and modulation of host signalling pathways. Certain bacterial species have been identified as potentially pro-tumorigenic, while others may exert protective effects, highlighting the microbiota as both a risk factor and a promising target for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy in colorectal cancer. This study is based on the “Metabolic Population Hypothesis “, which proposes that distinct dysbiotic microbial communities can converge functionally to produce similar metabolic outputs, ultimately driving the same pathological outcome. In the context of colorectal cancer, this concept suggests that different configurations of the gut microbiota—though taxonomically diverse—may promote a pro-tumorigenic environment. These shared metabolic activities can promote chronic inflammation, epithelial damage, and genomic instability, contributing to drive early epithelial alterations, shifting normal mucosa toward a pre-neoplastic phenotype that can evolve into adenomas and ultimately colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to metabolically and functionally…
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. It arises from the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in the epithelial cells lining the colon or rectum, often evolving from precancerous lesions such as adenomatous polyps. Lifestyle factors—including diet, obesity, and physical inactivity—as well as hereditary predispositions contribute significantly to CRC risk. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the role of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer development and progression. The intestinal microbiota, a complex and dynamic community of microorganisms, is essential for maintaining gut homeostasis, immune function, and metabolic balance. Dysbiosis—an imbalance in microbial composition—has been linked to CRC through mechanisms such as chronic inflammation, production of carcinogenic metabolites, and modulation of host signalling pathways. Certain bacterial species have been identified as potentially pro-tumorigenic, while others may exert protective effects, highlighting the microbiota as both a risk factor and a promising target for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy in colorectal cancer. This study is based on the “Metabolic Population Hypothesis “, which proposes that distinct dysbiotic microbial communities can converge functionally to produce similar metabolic outputs, ultimately driving the same pathological outcome. In the context of colorectal cancer, this concept suggests that different configurations of the gut microbiota—though taxonomically diverse—may promote a pro-tumorigenic environment. These shared metabolic activities can promote chronic inflammation, epithelial damage, and genomic instability, contributing to drive early epithelial alterations, shifting normal mucosa toward a pre-neoplastic phenotype that can evolve into adenomas and ultimately colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to metabolically and functionally…
author: RAHO, NICOLA
language: eng
keywords: Settore MEDS-10/A - Gastroenterologia
date published: 2026-07-16T00:00:00+02:00
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:29:55Z
provider: Università di Cagliari
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Università degli Studi di Cagliari

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/11584/488867