High body mass index in colorectal cancer patients was associated with significantly reduced microbiota α diversity compared to low BMI (p=0.042) and shared bacterial taxa with CIMP-high tumors.
Observational (n=170)
No
Patients with colorectal cancer and high BMI have reduced tumor microbiota diversity and share specific bacterial taxa with early-onset and CIMP-high colorectal cancers.
p-value: p=0.042
Abstract Background: Tumor microbiota plays a significant role in colorectal cancer (CRC) by influencing tumor development and progression. Our previous study demonstrated a significant association between high body mass index (high BMI, BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2) and CpG island methylator phenotype-high (CIMP-high) in early-onset CRC (EOCRC, age 50y). The present study investigates whether tumor microbiota may mediate this association in CRC. Materials and methods: We enrolled 140 patients with CRC and 30 patients with polyps from the biobank of National Taiwan University Hospital, respectively. The tumor and adjacent normal part in each tumor or polyp were collected. V3-V4 regions of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene were amplified and then amplicons were sequenced on the MiSeq system. Patients’ clinicopathological characteristics were also recorded. CIMP status was defined by using a 5-gene panel (p16, MINT1, MINT2, MINT31 and MLH1) and MethyLight assay. Analysis of diversity and LefSe (Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size) of tumor microbiota were performed and the results were compared between each subgroup. Results: In total, 121 CRC tumors (CRC-T), 115 adjacent normal (CRC-N) and 26 polyps (polyp-T and polyp-N) passed the quality control (sequencing depth 5000 reads). Microbiota α diversity is significantly lower in CRC compared to that in polyps (p = 1.3 x 10-11). Microbiota α diversity is also reduced in CRC patients with high BMI compared to those with low BMI (p = 0.042). LefSe analyses revealed specific microbiota enriched in each subgroup, including EOCRC, high BMI, and CIMP-high. The Venn diagram revealed multiple overlapping bacteria taxa between the high BMI and the CIMP-high or EOCRC subgroups. Conclusion: We found the diversity of microbiota in CRC with high BMI is significantly lower than that in CRC with low BMI and identified specific bacteria taxa shared between high BMI and CIMP-high or EOCRC tumors. The clinical applications of these bacterial taxa warrant further exploration. Citation Format: KuoHsing Chen, Jyh-Shiuan Hsu, Yu-Li Su, Shih-Chiang Lin, Been-Ren Lin, Kai-Lung Tsai, Li-Ming Tseng, Yi-Hsin Liang, Jia-Huei Tsai, Chien-Chen Tsai, Ting-Ting Liu, Mong-Hsun Tsai, Kun-Huei Yeh. Patients with high body mass index share tumor microbial profiles with CpG island methylator phenotype-high or early-onset colorectal cancers abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 4890.
Chen et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Colorectal cancer and polyps (n=170). High body mass index (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2) vs. Low BMI was evaluated on Microbiota α diversity (p=0.042). High body mass index in colorectal cancer patients was associated with significantly reduced microbiota α diversity compared to low BMI (p=0.042) and shared bacterial taxa with CIMP-high tumors.
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