In ancient lore, the Trojan Horse stands as a masterclass in cunning warfare, a symbol of trickery used by the Greeks to enter the city of Troy and end a decade-long siege. This story, deeply embedded in mythology and history, mirrors a modern biological counterpart found in the realm of medicine: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
It the Trojan horse that open the door to the others
My example of reference of one such bacteria is this: Fusobacterium nucleatum, commonly found in the oral cavity, has been linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) through various studies, which have explored its presence in tumor tissues and its potential roles in cancer progression. Research has shown that Fusobacterium nucleatum is found in higher quantities in colorectal cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. This bacterium’s presence is significantly associated with certain molecular characteristics of colorectal cancer such as high microsatellite instability and specific oncogenic mutations, which are more prevalent in right-sided colon cancers (Frontiers) (BioMed Central).
The relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer progression may be due, in part, to its ability to create a pro-inflammatory environment conducive to cancer development. It’s speculated that changes in stomach acidity, potentially influenced by other factors like Helicobacter pylori infection, could facilitate the survival and transit of oral bacteria like Fusobacterium to the lower gastrointestinal tract (NIH Director’s Blog) (BioMed Central) (Frontiers).
Further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms by which Fusobacterium nucleatum contributes to colorectal carcinogenesis and whether it could serve as a potential target for therapeutic intervention or as a biomarker for early detection of colorectal cancer (BioMed Central). The ongoing studies underscore the importance of maintaining oral health as a component of overall health strategies to prevent systemic diseases, including colorectal cancer (Frontiers).
