Gut microbial composition changes in bladder cancer patients: A case-control study in Harbin, China

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Oncology
• Nutritional science

Background:

• Bladder cancer is a significant health concern.
• The gut microbiome's role in various diseases is increasingly recognized.
• Understanding gut bacteria changes in bladder cancer is crucial for potential therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in gut microbiota composition in bladder cancer patients.
• To explore the relationship between gut bacteria, short-chain fatty acids, and intestinal permeability in bladder cancer.
• To assess the potential impact of dietary habits, specifically fruit intake, on these changes.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients and healthy controls.
• Collection of dietary and behavioral data via questionnaires.
• Analysis of fecal microbiota using Illumina HiSeq 2000 pyrosequencing.
• Quantification of bacterial DNA, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), serum lipopolysaccharide, and D-lactic acid.

Main Results:

• Bladder cancer patients exhibited lower fruit intake compared to controls.
• A decrease in Clostridium cluster XI and Prevotella was observed in bladder cancer patients.
• Fruit intake positively correlated with domain bacteria and Prevotella abundance.
• Bladder cancer patients had significantly lower butyric acid levels, which correlated with fruit intake.
• Elevated serum lipopolysaccharide and D-lactic acid indicated increased gut permeability in bladder cancer patients.

Conclusions:

• Bladder cancer is associated with gut dysbiosis, characterized by altered microbial composition.
• Reduced butyric acid concentrations and impaired intestinal integrity were noted in bladder cancer patients.
• Inadequate fruit intake may contribute to these gut microbiome alterations and increased intestinal permeability.