Gut microbiota and fatigue in rectal cancer patients: a cross-sectional pilot study.
CONTEXT
Although microbial-mediated disturbance of intestinal mucosal homeostasis (dysbiosis) is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT)-related fatigue, potential differences in the gut microbial diversity and in the abundance of gut microbial taxa between fatigued and non-fatigued patients have not been adequately examined, particularly in the rectal cancer population.


PURPOSE
In this cross-sectional study, we aim to examine the differences in (a) gut microbial diversity and gut microbial abundances and (b) predicted functional pathways of the gut microbiome between rectal cancer participants with and without fatigue at the end of CRT.


METHODS
Rectal cancer patients (n = 50) provided stool samples for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and symptom ratings for fatigue at the end of CRT. Gut microbiome data were analyzed using QIIME2, LEfSe, and the R statistical package.


RESULTS
Fatigued (n = 35) participants showed enriched bacterial abundances of Eubacterium, Streptococcus, Adlercreutzia, and Actinomyces, as well as enriched abundances of the microbial sucrose degradation pathway, compared to non-fatigued patients at the end of CRT (n = 15).


CONCLUSIONS
Differentially abundant microbial taxa were identified in fatigued and non-fatigued rectal cancer participants at the end of CRT. However, the exact role of these taxa (and identification of species) in the biology of CRT-related fatigue remains to be examined.
['González-Mercado|Velda J|VJ|', 'Lim|Jean|J|', 'Marrero|Sara|S|', 'Pedro|Elsa|E|', 'Saligan|Leorey N|LN|']
D000368:Aged D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005221:Fatigue D005260:Female D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010865:Pilot Projects D012004:Rectal Neoplasms
Fatigue Rectal cancer Chemotherapy and radiotherapy Gut microbial taxa