Overview
Long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC) is known to increase the risk of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), a form of colorectal cancer that develops in the setting of chronic intestinal inflammation. A new study suggests that bacterial quorum-sensing molecules, especially C6-short-chain N-acyl homoserine lactone (C6-scAHL), may help connect the gut microbiome to cancer development in UC.
Quorum-sensing molecules are chemical signals used by bacteria to communicate and coordinate behavior. In this research, investigators found that certain quorum-sensing molecules were elevated in people with UC, particularly those with inflammation and long disease duration, and that these molecules could promote tumor formation in mouse models.
