Power-law scaling in intratumoral microbiota of colorectal cancer

• DOI: 10.1186/s13099-024-00631-x
• Publication Date: 2024-07-07T14:01:38Z
• Authors: Nikolas Dovrolis; Maria Gazouli; François Rigal; Robert J. Whittaker; Thomas J. Matthews; Konstantinos Geor...; George Theodoropo...; Kostas A. Triantis
• Keywords: Amplicon

Abstract It has recently been proposed that the study of microbial dynamics in humans may gain insights from island biogeographical theory. Here, we test whether diversity intratumoral microbiota colorectal cancer tumors (CRC) follows a power law with tumor size akin to species-area relationship. We confirm direct correlation between quantity Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) within CRC and sizes, following (log)power model, explaining 47% variation. Understanding processes involved, potentially through analogy islands, ultimately contribute future clinical therapeutic strategies.