How a gut bacterial toxin may cause colon cancer
Understanding the Mechanism of a Gut Microbial Genotoxin Involved in Colorectal Carcinogenesis
Researchers are figuring out how a toxin made by certain gut bacteria damages DNA and contributes to colorectal cancer in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129793 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on colibactin, a chemical made by some E. coli in the gut that may harm DNA and promote colon tumors. Scientists will study the enzymes that make colibactin and try to define the toxin's exact chemical structure and how it interacts with DNA. The team will use lab chemistry, bacterial genetics, and mouse models, and will relate those findings to bacterial strains or samples linked to people with colorectal cancer. The goal is to connect what is learned in the lab to the types of bacteria seen in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for any related human-sample parts would be people with colorectal cancer or those at high risk who can provide stool or tumor tissue samples for analysis.
Not a fit: People with cancers unrelated to the gut microbiome or those expecting an immediate treatment benefit are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this basic-mechanism research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal a direct bacterial cause of some colorectal cancers and point to new prevention or treatment strategies targeting the toxin or the bacteria that produce it.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked pks-positive E. coli to increased tumor formation in mice and shown colibactin acts as a DNA alkylator, but the active toxin structure and full mechanism remain incompletely defined.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balskus, Emily Patricia — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Balskus, Emily Patricia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.