The effect of circadian rhythm and stress on the gut microbiome and colon cancer progression has recently attracted scientific interest. Specifically, the researchers found that colon cancer appears to be exacerbated in laboratory animals due to disruption of the circadian rhythm, which contributes to changes in the gut microbiome that may, in turn, increase its permeability. This can increase inflammation, ultimately leading to the development of colon cancer.
Stress can also affect the gut microbiome, influencing the development of colon cancer in laboratory animals, as other findings presented at the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2024 showed.
Both of these studies used animal models that had been genetically modified to mimic certain conditions, including the tendency to form tumors or circadian alterations.
How does stress affect the gut microbiome?
Researchers from the Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Liver Diseases of West China Hospital of China’s Sichuan University, who presented the study their results at UEG Week 2024 used experimental animal models, which they divided into several groups.
One group was exposed to chronic stress. The researchers then performed transplants to study the effect of stress on the microbiome and the development of colon cancer.
The researchers reported that mice that received transplants from the chronic stress group showed a higher tumor burden than those that received transplants from the control group (animal models that had not been subjected to stress).
This might suggest it Chronic stress affects the intestinal microflora in a way that could potentially be involved in the progression of colon cancer.
How is the gut affected by sleep disorders?
In the study published in Science Advances, the researchers used two types of genetically modified animal models, one genetically engineered to show a predisposition for tumor growth and the other with a predisposition for circadian disruption.
When circadian disruption was combined with colon cancer in laboratory animals, researchers found that the diversity of the microbiome changed. Furthermore, they noticed that the connections that control the permeability of the intestine were not working as usual.
The researchers thought this could increase the likelihood of inflammation in the gut, which in turn could contribute to the development of colon cancer.
Colon cancer under the microscope
“Although causality was not demonstrated in this study, these changes could increase the risk of colon cancer and perhaps other cancers,” the researchers say.
“Given the inexplicable increase in early colon cancer the new findings could be a possible explanation, but further studies should be conducted in the future to reach definitive conclusions,” they conclude.