Colorectal cancer (CRC), the second deadliest cancer globally, is closely tied to gut microbiota, opening doors for early detection and treatment. This review of 45 studies (2018-2024) highlights microbial biomarkers like Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis, and Parvimonas micra, with strong diagnostic accuracy (AUC >80%) across populations. Techniques like 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics, and shotgun sequencing revealed these links. Gut-based diagnostics offer a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to colonoscopy and FIT for spotting early CRC and precancerous lesions. Yet, regional microbial differences and inconsistent methods-sample processing and sequencing-hinder comparability. Standardizing approaches and exploring fungi and viruses are key to unlocking microbiota's full potential in CRC prevention, diagnosis, and therapy.
Upadhyay et al. (Thu,) studied this question.