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Assessing the causal relationship between gut microbiota and prostate cancer: A two-sample Mendelian randomization
Yijie Wang1, Zhaohui Long1, Yulong Hong2
1Department of Urology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, Hunan, China.
Urologic Oncology
|October 24, 2024
Summary
This study used Mendelian randomization to investigate the gut microbiome's causal link to prostate cancer (PCa). It identified 12 gut microbial taxa associated with PCa risk, offering potential targets for screening and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Cancer genomics
- Genetic epidemiology
Background:
- The gut microbiome's association with prostate cancer (PCa) is established, but causal links remain unclear due to confounding factors.
- Understanding the gut microbiota's role in PCa pathogenesis is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal relationship between gut microbial composition and prostate cancer (PCa) risk.
- To identify specific gut microbial taxa causally associated with PCa using a robust analytical approach.
Main Methods:
- A 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for gut microbiota (18,340 participants) and PCa (463,010 participants).
- The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analysis, supported by MR-Egger, weighted median, and mode-based methods.
- Sensitivity analyses including heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and leave-one-out tests were conducted to ensure result robustness.
Main Results:
- The MR analysis identified 12 gut microbial taxa with a potential causal association with PCa.
- Positive associations with PCa risk were observed for genera Victivallis, Akkermansia, Odoribacter, Butyrivibrio, and families Enterobacteriaceae, Verrucomicrobiaceae, among others.
- Negative associations with PCa risk were found for genera Eubacterium ruminantium group, Candidatus Soleaferrea, and RuminococcaceaeUCG003.
Conclusions:
- The study provides evidence for a genetically predicted causal relationship between specific gut microbial taxa and prostate cancer (PCa).
- Identification of these 12 microbial taxa offers novel targets for future PCa screening strategies and therapeutic development.
