Whole-Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Characteristics of Cancer Microbiome in Korean Patients with GI Tract Cancer: Fusobacterium nucleatum as a Therapeutic Target

Abstract

Remarkable progress has occurred over the past two decades in identifying microbiomes affecting the human body in numerous ways. The microbiome is linked to gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a common microbiome among GI tract cancers and how the microbiome affects the disease. To ensure ethnic consistency, Korean patients with GI tract cancer were selected. Fusobacterium nucleatum is an enriched bacteria in all cancer tissues. F. nucleatum is a Gram-negative obligate anaerobe that promotes colorectal cancer. Through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Differentially Expressed Genes (DEG) analyses, the upregulation of the G2M checkpoint pathway was identified in the F. nucleatum-high group. Cell viability and G2M checkpoint pathway genes were examined in MC 38 cells treated with F. nucleatum. F. nucleatum upregulated the expression of G2M checkpoint pathway genes and the cell proliferation of MC 38 cells. F. nucleatum facilitated cancer’s use of G2M checkpoint pathways and F. nucleatum could be a therapeutic target in Korean GI tract cancer.