Researchers have identified five types of bacteria associated with aggressive prostate cancer, and they say their findings could lead to new treatments for the disease.
The five types of bacteria were common in urine and tissue samples from men with aggressive prostate cancer, according to the team at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom.
All of the bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they can grow without oxygen present, the researchers report.
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For the study, the investigators analyzed urine or tissue samples from more than 600 patients with or without prostate cancer.
“We already know of some strong associations between infections and cancer. For example, the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the digestive tract can lead to stomach ulcers and is associated with stomach cancer, and some types of the HPV virus can cause cervical cancer,” project leader Colin Cooper, a professor at UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said in a university news release.
“We wanted to find out whether bacteria could be linked to the way prostate cancer grows and spreads,” Cooper explains.
Prostate cancer is more commonly a disease men die with rather than from, according to co-author Jeremy Clark, of Norwich Medical School.
“And little is known about what causes some prostate cancers to become more aggressive than others. We now have evidence that certain bacteria are involved in this and are part of the puzzle,” Clark adds.
Along with pinpointing the five types of bacteria, the researchers also identified potential biological mechanisms of how these bacteria may be linked to cancer.
The study found that men who had one or more of the species in their urine, prostate or tumor tissue were 2.6 times more likely to see their early-stage cancer progress to advanced disease than men who did not.
Lead scientist Colin Cooper, a professor of cancer genetics at the University of East Anglia, says it’s possible the bacteria may not be involved in the disease. Men with more aggressive prostate cancer may have immune system deficiencies that allow certain bacteria to thrive. However, researchers still strongly believe the microbes are involved, just as Helicobacter pylori infections raise the risk of stomach cancer.
“If you knew for sure that a species of bacteria was causing prostate cancer, you could work out an antibiotic to remove it and that would prevent progression, one would hope,” Cooper said. But this is not as straightforward as it sounds, he cautioned. “There are many complications. Antibiotics don’t get into the prostate very well and you would need to choose an antibiotic that only kills certain bacteria,” he said.
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While the study doesn’t prove that bacteria drives or exacerbates prostate cancer, more research that is currently underway can confirm their role. This will help researchers develop tests that can identify men most at risk and potentially find antibiotics to prevent the cancer from claiming thousands of lives each year.
“This is an exciting discovery that has the potential to truly revolutionize treatment for men,” says Dr. Hayley Luxton of Prostate Cancer UK, which co-funded the research.
“It is not yet known if they are causative but if this could be proven then we have a potential route for prevention,” Prof Rosalind Eeles, a cancer geneticist on the study at the Institute of Cancer Research in London says. “The way that we may be able to prove this is to look to see if these organisms are never found in prostate samples which have no cancer.”
Scientists have already pieced together how bacteria may behave in the body, including what toxins and other substances they might release thanks to genetic information on the microbes. They have already developed half a dozen hypotheses around how the bugs could cause prostate cancer.
“We currently have no way of reliably identifying aggressive prostate cancers, and this research could help make sure men get the right treatment for them,” Luxton adds.
“If the team can demonstrate that these newly identified bacteria can not only predict, but actually cause aggressive prostate cancer, for the first time we may actually be able to prevent prostate cancer [from] occurring. This would be a huge breakthrough that could save thousands of lives each year.”
Black men in the U.S. are about 60% to 80% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to men of other races in the U.S, according to the American Cancer Society.
However, in some cases patients may experience the following:
If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you or if you want to discuss your risks and the option of screening, consult with your doctor.
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