Relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and antitumor immunity in colorectal cancer liver metastasis

• DOI: 10.1111/cas.15126
• Publication Date: 2021-08-31T21:28:06Z
• Authors: Yuki Sakamoto; Kosuke Mima; Takatsugu Ishimoto; Yoko Ogata; Katsunori Imai; Yuji Miyamoto; Takahiko Akiyama; Nobuya Daitoku; Yukiharu Hiyoshi; Masaaki Iwatsuki; Yoshifumi Baba; Shiro Iwagami; Yo‐ichi Yamashita; Naoya Yoshida; Yoshihiro Komohara; Shuji Ogino; Hideo Baba
• Keywords: DNA, Bacterial; Male; Fusobacterium nucleatum; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells; Liver Neoplasms; Original Articles; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Tumor-Associated Macrophages; Humans; Female; Lymphocyte Count; Colorectal Neoplasms

AbstractFusobacterium nucleatum has been detected in 8%‐13% of human colorectal cancer, and shown to inhibit immune responses against primary colorectal tumors in animal models. Thus, we hypothesized that the presence of F. nucleatum might be associated with reduced T cell density in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). We quantified F. nucleatum DNA in 181 CRLM specimens using quantitative PCR assay. The densities of CD8+ T cells, CD33+ cells (marker for myeloid‐derived suppressor cells [MDSCs]), and CD163+ cells (marker for tumor‐associated macrophages [TAMs]) in CRLM tissue were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Fusobacterium nucleatum was detected in eight (4.4%) of 181 CRLM specimens. Compared with F. nucleatum‐negative CRLM, F. nucleatum‐positive CRLM showed significantly lower density of CD8+ T cells (P = .033) and higher density of MDSCs (P = .001). The association of F. nucleatum with the density of TAMs was not statistically significant (P = .70). The presence of F. nucleatum is associated with a lower density of CD8+ T cells and a higher density of MDSCs in CRLM tissue. Upon validation, our findings could provide insights to develop strategies that involve targeting microbiota and immune cells for the prevention and treatment of CRLM.