Exploring the role of the gut barrier in colorectal cancer treatment

A new review titled “The gut barrier as a gatekeeper in colorectal cancer treatment” has been published in Oncotarget.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is highly prevalent and a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The primary curative treatment for CRC is surgical resection of the affected bowel segment. However, postoperative complications often include a weakened gut barrier and the dissemination of bacterial proinflammatory lipopolysaccharides.

Researchers discuss how gut microbiota and microbial metabolites regulate basal inflammation levels in the gut and the healing process of the bowel after surgery.

“We and others have shown in the last few years that gut microbiota influences the healing process of the bowel and the restoration of the gut barrier after surgery,” explain the researchers.

They further elaborate on the restoration of gut barrier function in CRC patients and how this potentially impacts the dissemination and implantation of CRC cells in extracolonic tissues, thereby contributing to worse survival outcomes after surgery.

“Based on our recent work, we believe that weakened gut barrier function, namely due to poor healing after surgery, leads to persistent systemic low-grade inflammation and a higher risk of local and systemic cancer recurrence,” they conclude.

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