Yu LC, Li YP, Xin YM, Mao M, Pan YX, Qu YX, Luo ZD, Zhang Y, Zhang X. Application of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a biomarker in gastrointestinal malignancies. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16(6): 2271-2283 [PMID: 38994170 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2271]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xin Zhang, MD, PhD, Additional Professor, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Biomarker and Artificial Intelligence Application, No. 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. xinzhang@sdu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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Yu LC, Li YP, Xin YM, Mao M, Pan YX, Qu YX, Luo ZD, Zhang Y, Zhang X. Application of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a biomarker in gastrointestinal malignancies. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16(6): 2271-2283 [PMID: 38994170 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2271]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2024; 16(6): 2271-2283 Published online Jun 15, 2024. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2271
Application of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a biomarker in gastrointestinal malignancies
Long-Chen Yu, Ya-Ping Li, Yue-Ming Xin, Mai Mao, Ya-Xin Pan, Yi-Xuan Qu, Zheng-Dong Luo, Yi Zhang, Xin Zhang
Long-Chen Yu, Ya-Ping Li, Yue-Ming Xin, Mai Mao, Ya-Xin Pan, Yi-Xuan Qu, Zheng-Dong Luo, Yi Zhang, Xin Zhang, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Biomarker and Artificial Intelligence Application, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Yi Zhang and Xin Zhang.
Author contributions: Yu LC, Li YP, Xin YM, Mao M, Pan YX, Qu YX, Zhang Y, and Zhang X contributed to this paper; Zhang Y and Zhang X designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Yu LC, Li YP, Xin YM, and Mao M contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; Pan YX and Qu YX collected the information; Yu LC, Li YP, Xin YM, and Mao M contributed to the writing the manuscript; Luo ZD, Zhang Y, and Zhang X revised the manuscript; All authors have read and approved the final manuscript. Zhang Y and Zhang X, as co-corresponding authors, played important and indispensable roles in the design of the manuscript, data interpretation and manuscript revision. Zhang Y and Zhang X jointly applied for and received funding for this research project. Zhang Y was responsible for the design and supervision of the entire article. He searched the literature, revised an early version of the manuscript focusing on the carcinogenesis of F. nucleatum. Zhang X was responsible for image drawing and table organization, conducting a comprehensive literature search, and submitting initial and current versions of the manuscript with a focus on the use of Clostridium nucleatum testing in the diagnosis and prognostic monitoring of gastrointestinal malignancies. The collaboration of Zhang Y and Zhang X was essential for the publication of this manuscript.
Supported bythe National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81972005; and Taishan Scholar Program of Shandong Province, No. tsqn202306346 and No. tstp20221156.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Xin Zhang, MD, PhD, Additional Professor, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong Engineering Research Center of Biomarker and Artificial Intelligence Application, No. 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. xinzhang@sdu.edu.cn
Received: December 20, 2023 Revised: April 8, 2024 Accepted: April 28, 2024 Published online: June 15, 2024 Processing time: 177 Days and 15.1 Hours
Abstract
The morbidity and mortality of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies are among the highest in the world, posing a serious threat to human health. Because of the insidious onset of the cancer, it is difficult for patients to be diagnosed at an early stage, and it rapidly progresses to an advanced stage, resulting in poor treatment and prognosis. Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a gram-negative, spore-free anaerobic bacterium that primarily colonizes the oral cavity and is implicated in the development of colorectal, esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers via various intricate mechanisms. Recent development in novel research suggests that F. nucleatum may function as a biomarker in GI malignancies. Detecting the abundance of F. nucleatum in stool, saliva, and serum samples of patients may aid in the diagnosis, risk assessment, and prognosis monitoring of GI malignancies. This editorial systematically describes the biological roles and mechanisms of F. nucleatum in GI malignancies focusing on the application of F. nucleatum as a biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of GI malignancies to promote the clinical translation of F. nucleatum and GI tumors-related research.
Core Tip: Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies are characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of GI malignancies is crucial for disease intervention and treatment. Numerous studies have shown that Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is closely related to the development of various GI malignant tumors. This paper discusses the mechanism of F. nucleatum in promoting the progression of GI tumors, elaborates its clinical value as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, and provides ideas for the development and research of novel biomarkers for GI malignancies.
