Stress and working at night have been found to impact cancer risk, especially colorectal cancer risk. The microbiome has been linked to colorectal cancer risk and progression, with dysregulation of the microbiome being associated with stress and disruption of the circadian rhythm. Recent research in mice has shown a connection between stress, disrupted circadian cycles, and colorectal cancer progression due to their impact on gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, and inflammation. Circadian rhythm and stress’s influence on the gut microbiome and colorectal cancer progression have been the main focus of recent studies.
Researchers have identified that colorectal cancer can worsen due to circadian rhythm disruption, leading to microbiome changes that can increase intestinal permeability and inflammation, ultimately contributing to cancer progression. A study in mouse models of colorectal cancer published in Science Advances in September 2024 highlighted these findings. Stress has also been shown to impact the microbiome, affecting colorectal cancer progression in mice. Studies presented at UEG Week 2024 in Vienna revealed that stress can lead to gut microbiota changes that promote colorectal cancer progression.
Studies on mouse models induced to develop colorectal cancer showed that exposure to chronic stress led to higher tumor burdens compared to control groups. Fecal transplants from stressed mice promoted colorectal cancer progression, suggesting that stress affects the gut microbiota in ways relevant to cancer progression. Lower levels of beneficial bacteria and decreased antitumor immune cell activity were observed in the stress group. The findings suggest that targeting gut microbiota during chronic stress could be a potential strategy for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment.
In another study published in Science Advances, researchers utilized genetically engineered mouse models to examine the impact of combined circadian disruption and colorectal cancer predisposition on the microbiome. Results showed that the diversity of the microbiome changed, affecting metabolite pathways and intestinal permeability control, potentially leading to inflammation in the gut and colorectal cancer progression. Recommendations are for additional studies to be conducted to determine the causality between circadian disruption, microbiome alterations, and colorectal cancer risk in young patients.
Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD, a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, highlighted the impact of night shift work on cancer risk, suggesting that disrupted sleep can hinder anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory processes. Sleep disturbances and hormonal imbalances caused by disrupted sleep could impair cancer suppression mechanisms and alter growth factors. Ogino emphasized the importance of maintaining circadian rhythms to regulate body functions, including gut homeostasis and the functioning of abundant gut microbes.
Qing Li, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher, led a study at UEG Week 2024 that examined the impact of chronic stress on the gut microbiota and colorectal cancer development in mouse models. Fecal transplants from stressed mice promoted colorectal cancer progression, emphasizing the crucial role of gut microbiota during chronic stress in cancer development. Further analysis revealed lower levels of beneficial bacteria and reduced antitumor immune cell activity in the stress group. Li suggested that supplementing with specific bacteria during chronic stress could inhibit colorectal cancer progression and serve as a potential intervention strategy. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind this finding and develop effective treatment options.
