Bladder cancer-related microbiota: examining differences in urine and tissue samples

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Oncology
• Urology

Background:

• The urinary microbiota composition differs between bladder carcinoma patients and healthy individuals.
• Understanding the relationship between urinary and tissue-associated microbiota is crucial for bladder cancer diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the microbiota composition in cancerous bladder tissues and urine samples from the same patients.
• To identify potential microbial biomarkers for improved bladder cancer diagnostic accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Urine and bladder tissue samples were collected from patients undergoing transurethral resection.
• Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing (V3-V4 region) was performed.
• Microbiota analysis utilized the Kraken pipeline.

Main Results:

• Microbiota analysis from different tissue locations within the same patient was highly reproducible.
• Five bacterial genera (Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Clostridium sensu stricto, Enterobacter, Klebsiella) were significantly over-represented in bladder tumor tissues compared to urine.
• This is the first study to directly compare urinary and bladder mucosa-associated microbiota in bladder cancer.

Conclusions:

• Bladder tumor-associated microbiota exhibit a distinct composition compared to urinary microbiota.
• Characterizing these microbial differences may lead to novel screening and monitoring methods for bladder cancer.
• Further research into microbiota changes during bladder cancer progression is warranted.