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Investigating the correlation between gut microbiota and prostate cancer through a two-sample Mendelian randomization
1Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Medicine
|April 4, 2025
Summary
This study investigated the gut microbiome's causal link to prostate cancer. Certain gut bacteria may protect against prostate cancer, while others increase risk, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
Background:
- Observational studies suggest a link between gut microbiota and prostate cancer.
- The causal relationship remains unclear, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the causal influence of the gut microbiome on prostate cancer progression.
- Utilize large-scale genetic data to establish causality.
Main Methods:
- Mendelian randomization analysis using data from MiBioGen (18,340 participants) and FinnGen (13,216 participants).
- Employed inverse variance-weighted, MR-Egger, maximum likelihood, and weighted median methods.
- Conducted sensitivity analyses for heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.
Main Results:
- Identified specific gut microbial taxa with potential causal effects on prostate cancer.
- Protective effects observed for Verrucomicrobia (Rikenellaceae) and genera Anaerotruncus, Eisenbergiella, Olsenella, Parabacteroides.
- Adverse effects linked to Bacilli, Erysipelotrichia, Erysipelotrichales, Lactobacillales, Erysipelotrichaceae, and genera Marvinbryantia, Romboutsia, Ruminococcaceae UCG002, Sutterella.
Conclusions:
- Established a potential causal connection between specific gut microbial compositions and prostate cancer.
- Findings suggest distinct microbial groups influence prostate cancer risk.
- Further randomized controlled trials are recommended for validation.
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