Microbiome Profiling in Bladder Cancer Patients Using the First-morning Urine Sample

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Oncology
• Urology

Background:

• The urinary microbiome (urobiome) is increasingly linked to bladder cancer (BCa) development.
• Specific bacteria may drive chronic inflammation, promoting carcinogenesis.
• Urobiome signatures vary in BCa patients based on tumor type, geography, age, and sex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the urobiome in BCa patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT).
• To identify potential predictive biomarkers for bladder cancer through urobiome analysis.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed bacterial 16S rRNA in first-morning (FM) urine samples from 48 TURBT patients (30 BCa, 18 benign) using next-generation sequencing.
• Compared urobiome composition between catheterized and FM urine samples.
• Utilized DESeq2 and linear discriminant analysis to identify BCa-associated urinary taxa.

Main Results:

• First-morning urine samples are suitable for urobiome analysis, comparable to catheterized samples.
• BCa patients exhibited a distinct urobiome compared to controls.
• Increased abundance of *Porphyromonas* and *Porphyromonas somerae* was observed in BCa patients, particularly in males over 50.

Conclusions:

• First-morning urine is a practical specimen for urobiome analysis.
• *Porphyromonas somerae* shows potential as a specific biomarker for bladder cancer risk.
• Urobiome analysis using FM urine may aid in identifying individuals at risk for BCa.