We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Diagnostic Test Accurately Detects Colorectal Cancer by Identifying Microbial Signature in Gut Bacteria

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 Jun 2025

Colorectal cancer remains one of the deadliest and most common forms of cancer worldwide, with only 40% of cases diagnosed before metastasis. More...

Current screening methods, like colonoscopy, are invasive and resource-intensive, limiting early detection efforts. The link between the gut microbiome and colorectal cancer was first identified several years ago. Certain bacteria present in the gut microbiota have the capacity to interfere with human cellular processes and are believed to contribute to cancer development over time. In some instances, this is due to their production of toxins that can damage DNA, leading to mutations, one of the key drivers of cancer. This suggests that the gut microbiota may help create conditions that promote the onset of the disease. Researchers have been working toward using the gut microbiome as a clinical target for screening for colorectal cancer. This would ideally allow simple stool tests to be used for early detection of the disease in place of expensive procedures such as colonoscopies. Now, an international research team has identified a unique microbial signature in stool samples that could lead to a highly accurate, non-invasive screening test based on gut microbiome analysis.

The multidisciplinary study, coordinated by the University of Trento (Trento, Italy), drew on the team’s expertise in microbiology, computational biology, and oncology to explore the potential of gut metagenomics in cancer detection. The researchers discovered that a specific group of around a dozen bacterial species consistently appears in greater numbers in the guts of individuals with colorectal cancer. Among the well-known bacteria is Fusobacterium nucleatum, alongside others such as Parvimonas micra, Gemella morbillorum, and Peptostreptococcus stomatis. These bacteria are typically present in the mouths of healthy individuals, but their presence in stool samples appears to be strongly associated with colorectal cancer. This microbial signature, identified through gut metagenomic sequencing, achieved nearly 90% accuracy in distinguishing between healthy individuals and those with the disease. Notably, the presence and abundance of these bacteria also correlate with the cancer’s stage and anatomical location, offering additional clinical insights.

A critical component of this breakthrough was the application of a novel machine learning framework developed by the research team. The model interprets complex microbiome patterns in stool samples to predict cancer presence with high confidence. While the study primarily focuses on early detection, the microbial signature may also offer clues about disease mechanisms. Some of these bacteria may promote cancer development by producing DNA-damaging toxins, further underscoring the complex relationship between the microbiome and carcinogenesis. However, the researchers stress that even without establishing causality, the value of this tool as a screening method remains significant. If validated through future clinical trials, this approach could complement or partially replace invasive procedures, such as colonoscopies, by allowing their use only in high-risk individuals identified through microbiome screening. This would streamline cancer detection, improve patient comfort, and potentially enable earlier treatment.


Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
New
Blood Glucose Test Strip
AutoSense Test
New
Clinical Chemistry System
P780
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: The microfluidic device for passive separation of platelet-rich plasma from whole blood (Photo courtesy of University of the Basque Country)

Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: An innovative deep learning model can accurately predict MSI tumor and immune checkpoint inhibitor responsiveness (Photo courtesy of Jae-Ho Cheong/Yonsei University College of Medicine)

AI Model Accurately Predicts MSI Tumor and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Responsiveness

One in three people is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime, and a key factor in patient prognosis is the tumor’s microsatellite status—whether it is stable or shows microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H).... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The acquisition of Exosome Diagnostics adds the ExoDx Prostate test to Mdxhealth’s portfolio (Photo courtesy of Bio-Techne)

Bio-Techne Divests Exosome Diagnostics to Reposition Product Portfolio

Bio-Techne Corporation (Minneapolis, MN, USA) has entered into an agreement with Mdxhealth SA (Irvine, CA, USA), which will acquire its Exosome Diagnostics Inc. (Waltham, MA, US) business, including the... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.