Colorectal cancer and Blastocystis sp. infection

Abstract

Background Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal protozoan found worldwide. Based on gene analysis, 17 subtypes (STs, ST1–ST17) have been identified, 9 of which have been isolated from humans. Differences in clinical consequences may depend on differences among the STs. Here, we evaluated the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to a control group and assessed the relationships between Blastocystis sp. infection and sex; age; and CRC grade, stage, and location. Methods The study included 107 CRC patients (41 women and 66 men, median age 65 years); 124 subjects without colorectal cancer or a history of oncological disease comprised the control group (55 women and 69 men, median age 63). Stool samples were collected from patients before oncological treatment and examined using light microscopy (iodine-stained smear). Additionally, PCR-based identification of Blastocystis sp. was performed in 95 stool samples from CRC patients and 76 stool samples from the control group. Results Light microscopy showed that the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was significantly higher in CRC patients than in the control group (12.15% and 2.42%, respectively; p = 0.0041). Multivariate analysis showed that the odds of Blastocystis sp. infection were fivefold higher in the CRC group than in the control group. PCR-based molecular examinations demonstrated that the proportion of patients infected with Blastocystis sp. was significantly higher in the CRC group than in the control group (12.63% and 2.63%, respectively; p = 0.023). The predominant ST in the CRC group was ST3, detected in nine patients (75%), followed by ST1 (2 patients, 16.7%) and ST2 (1 patient, 8.3%). No association was found between Blastocystis sp. infection and age, sex, or CRC stage, grade, or location. Conclusions The results showed that CRC was associated with an increased risk of opportunistic Blastocystis sp. infection, even before oncological treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report estimating the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection in CRC patients before oncological treatment in Europe.

Are Blastocystis hominis and Cryptosporidium spp. playing a positive role in colorectal cancer risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…1 , a total of 1292 studies were identified by the initial search in the major databases. Finally, after removing duplicate and papers with non-related subjects, thirteen papers (seven case–control [ 4 , 23 – 28 ] and six cross-sectional studies [ 29 – 34 ]) for B. hominis /CRC and six papers (two case–control [ 6 , 8 ] and four cross-sectional studies [ 35 – 38 ]) for Cryptosporidium spp./CRC were eligible to include in data synthesis. These studies were conducted in ten different countries from four in Poland (one study for B. hominis and three studies for Cryptosporidium spp.…”

“…Chronic infections and inflammation along with unhealthy diet, stressful lifestyle, cell damages, constant exposure to radiation and harmful chemicals are risk factors for development of cancers [ 2 , 3 ]. Infectious agents including parasites account for approximately 16% of cancers [ 4 ]. As infectious factors, the Blastocystis hominis and Cryptosporidium spp.…”

“…are ubiquitous opportunistic protozoa isolated from the human host gastrointestinal tract [ 5 , 6 ]. These prevalent enteric parasites may cause serious challenges in people undergoing colorectal cancer (CRC) chemotherapy (immunocompromised) due to their location in gastrointestinal tract [ 4 , 7 ]. Among the Cryptosporidium species, Cryptosporidium parvum ( C. parvum ) and Cryptosporidium hominis ( C. hominis ) are responsible for over 90% of all human cases [ 8 ].…”

Prevalence of Blastocystis in Geese Reproductive Flocks

“…Gastrointestinal tract parasitoses has a crucial role in the morbidity and mortality of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [38]. Humans with lowered immunological system effectiveness and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as colorectal cancer are more susceptible to infections [39,40]. As the evidence shows, Blastocystis sp.…”

Changes of gut microbiota in colorectal cancer patients with Pentatrichomonas hominis infection

“…observed that infection with Blastocystis sp. significantly increases the incidence of colon cancer ( Sulzyc-Bielicka et al., 2021 ). Additionally, studies on murine models of CRC have reported that infections with different intestinal parasites have variable effects on tumor initiation and formation in CRC ( Hayes et al., 2017 ; Biton et al., 2018 ).…”