The intratumor microbiome is associated with microsatellite instability

Menée à partir de données transcriptomiques et génomiques du projet "The Cancer Genome Atlas" et de données cliniques du "PanCancer Atlas consortium" portant sur des patients atteints d'un cancer colorectal, d'un cancer de l'estomac ou d'un cancer de l'endomètre, cette étude met en évidence une association entre le microbiome intratumoral et l'instabilité des microsatellites

Résumé en anglais

Intratumoral microbes may have multifunctional roles in carcinogenesis. Microsatellite instability (MSI) is associated with higher tumor immunity and mutational burden. Using whole transcriptome and whole genome sequencing microbial abundance data, we investigated associations of intratumoral microbes with MSI, survival, and MSI-relevant tumor molecular characteristics across multiple cancer types including colorectal cancer (CRC), stomach adenocarcinoma, and endometrial carcinoma. Among CRC patients (N = 451), our key finding was strong associations of multiple CRC-associated genera, including Dialister, and Casatella, with MSI. Dialister and Casatella abundance was associated with improved overall survival (HRsMortality [95% CIs]=0.56 [0.34-0.92] and 0.44 [0.27-0.72], respectively, comparing higher relative to lower quantiles). Multiple intratumor microbes were associated with immune genes and tumor mutational burden. Diversity of oral cavity-originating microbes was also associated with MSI among CRC and stomach adenocarcinoma patients. Overall, our findings suggest the intratumor microbiota may differ by MSI status and play a role in influencing the tumor microenvironment.