Summary
This narrative review synthesises the bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota composition and colorectal cancer, examining how dysbiosis influences disease pathogenesis through metabolite production, inflammation, and immune modulation. The authors highlight the protective effects of fibre-rich diets and the increased risk associated with processed meat and high-fat diets, and present emerging evidence that microbiota-targeted interventions—including dietary modification, probiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation—may improve cancer prevention and treatment outcomes across multiple modalities (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy).
Regional applicability
The mechanistic findings and dietary associations are broadly applicable to United Kingdom populations given shared dietary patterns (processed meat consumption, lower fibre intake in many communities) and similar healthcare delivery contexts. However, the specific efficacy and feasibility of microbiota-modulation strategies in UK clinical practice would require prospective validation within the NHS.
Key measures
Gut microbiota composition and dysbiosis markers; colorectal cancer incidence, prognosis, and treatment complications; response to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery; dietary influences on microbiota; efficacy of probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation.
Outcomes reported
The review examined the role of gut microbiota composition in colorectal cancer development, treatment efficacy, and complications. It synthesised evidence on how dysbiosis associates with precancerous lesions, tumour aggressiveness, and therapy outcomes, and explored microbiota modulation strategies for prevention and treatment.
Supporting research
Author abstract specifically discusses processed meat, high-fat and fibre-rich diets, and dietary/probiotic microbiome modulation alongside colorectal-cancer treatments.
Limits: Mixed narrative synthesis; dietary components and underlying study designs must be separated from chemotherapy/FMT. No isolated prevention effect or clinical dietary recommendation is certified.
Topic tags
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