Gut Microbiota and Host Gene Mutations in Colorectal Cancer Patients and Controls of Iranian and Finnish Origin

BACKGROUND/AIM: Gut microbiota plays an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its composition in CRC patients can be influenced by ethnicity and tumour genomics. Herein, the aim was to study the possible associations of ethnicity and gene mutations with the gut microbiota in CRC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacterial composition in stool samples of 83 CRC patients and 60 controls from Iran and Finland was studied by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The association of gut microbiota composition with CRC, host mutations in KRAS, NRAS and TP53, and ethnicity analysed. RESULTS: Beta diversity analysis indicated significant differences between the Iranian and Finnish gut microbiota composition, in both controls and patients' groups. The Iranian controls had higher abundance of Prevotella and lower abundance of Bacteroides compared to the Finnish controls, while the Finnish patients had higher abundance of Clostridium compared to Iranian patients. Abundance of Ruminococcus was higher in patients compared to the controls. Higher abundances of Herbaspirillum, Catenibacterium and lower abundances of Barnesiella were associated with mutations in NRAS, TP53, and RAS respectively. CONCLUSION: A possible link of host gene mutations with gut bacterial composition is suggested.