A multi-institutional team led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has identified how a common gut bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, can trigger colon cancer. The study, published in the journal Nature, reveals that the bacterium activates a specific signaling pathway that promotes tumor growth.
The researchers found that Fusobacterium nucleatum produces a protein called FadA, which binds to a receptor on colon cells, activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This pathway is known to drive cell proliferation and is often dysregulated in colorectal cancer. The study provides a mechanistic link between the presence of this bacterium and the development of the disease.
According to the team, these findings could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating colorectal cancer, such as targeting the FadA protein or the bacterial strain itself. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.
