Link found between bowel cancer and E. coli gut infection

According to a study published in the journal Nature, a person’s chance of developing bowel cancer may be increased by a common type of gut bacterium.

The bacterium is a type of E. coli infection, which scientists believe is present in up to one in five people. It increases a toxin which experts say can harm the cells which line the bowel, potentially turning some cells cancerous over time.

There are currently around 42,000 new cases of bowel cancer each year in the UK, it is not yet known how many of these cases may be linked to the E. coli strain that makes the toxin colibactin.

Researchers think it may contribute to a minority of bowel cancer cases, around one in 20, but say more research is necessary to confirm the link.

Nicola Smith, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, who funded the work, said “Although it might sound scary, there’s still lots left to understand about how our gut bacteria affect our health, what we could do about it, and how much impact it has on bowel cancer risk.

“In the future, knowing what role bacteria in our gut plays could change the way we detect and prevent bowel cancer.

“But we do know that around half of bowel cancer cases can be prevented by not smoking, keeping a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet – so there’s plenty of changes that you can make right now that will reduce your risk.”

Bowel Cancer UK’s chief executive Genevieve Edwards, said “Although this research is at an early stage, it adds to the growing body of evidence about the role that bacteria and other microorganisms that live in our gut may play in bowel cancer development.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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