Fusobacterium nucleatum and response to treatment in colon and rectal cancer: a systematic review.
Sara De Dosso, Letizia Deantonio, Giandomenica Iezzi et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated the association between Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and treatment outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) across 11 studies involving 1571 patients. The findings suggest that higher pre-treatment Fn levels correlate with poorer responses to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer and increased relapse risk. The overall quality of evidence was rated low to very low.
Key findings
- Higher pre-treatment Fn abundance was linked to poorer pathological response in 4 of 5 studies on neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
- Persistent Fn positivity after treatment was associated with an increased relapse risk.
- In metastatic CRC, Fn was more prevalent in patients with progressive disease receiving chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Understanding the role of Fusobacterium nucleatum in treatment resistance could help identify patients at higher risk for poor outcomes, guiding more personalized treatment strategies in colorectal cancer management.
What to keep in mind
The overall quality of evidence was rated low to very low.