Project information
Identification of Escherichia coli prognostic markers in colorectal cancer and evaluation of the neoplasia-associated strains ex vivo (E. coli in CRC)

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common human malignancies. Its etiopathogenesis has not been fully elucidated; however, recent studies have shown that the composition of the large intestine microbiota plays an important role in tumorigenesis, and E. coli is considered to be a bacterial species associated with colorectal neoplasia. The objective of this project is a whole-genome characterization of the E. coli isolates and the identification of genetic factors associated with neoplasia. Moreover, the adverse activities of neoplasia-associated E. coli will be evaluated ex vivo. Since these E. coli strains appear to be persistent human residents regardless of neoplasia removal, the cohort of neoplasia patients investigated ten years ago will be analyzed for their medical records after cancer treatment. At the end of the project, the prognostic power of identified neoplasia markers will be screened in fecal E. coli and specific PCR-detection of the most robust prognostic markers will be developed for practical usage.