Norway (UK): Each year around 12,000 men in the UK die of prostate cancer, but many more die of prostate cancer than that. So knowing whether or not the disease will progress quickly is important to knowing who to treat.
Our latest study, published in European Urology Oncology, sheds some light on understanding which cancers will rapidly and aggressively evolve and which will not. Part of the answer lies in the five types of bacteria.
For several years, we have known that pathogens (bacteria and viruses) can cause cancer. We know, for example, that Helicobacter pylori is associated with stomach cancer and that human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer. There is also increasing evidence that Fusobacterium nucleatum is linked to colorectal cancer.
Here at Norwich Medical School, along with our colleagues at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, the Quadram Institute, and others, we have identified five types (genera) of bacteria associated with aggressive prostate cancer. These are anaerobic bacteria, Peptoniphilus, Porphyromonas, Fenollaria, and Fusobacterium. We call this the ‘Anaerobic Bacteria Biomarker Group’ or ABBS.
The genera of bacteria are divided into “species”. And here we found four completely new types of bacteria, three of which are related to the genera associated with aggressive prostate cancer.
We named two new bacteria after two of the study’s funders: Porphyromonas bobii, after the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Varibaculum prostatecancerukia, after prostate cancer in the UK.
World Cancer Day: Prostate, breast and colon most common in India; Learn the causes and symptoms
Fight cancer with hope
Among the various diseases prevalent in the country, cancer is known as one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in the country. According to the data of the Indian census, the death rate from cancer in India is high and alarming in people under the age of 70.
Cancer is the second most common disease in India and is responsible for the maximum mortality of about 0.3 million deaths annually. This is due to the lack of awareness of types of cancer and the need for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Among the types of cancer in India, breast, cervical, colon and prostate cancers are the most common, thus knowing its signs and symptoms is the key to management.
Dr. Bhavna Parikh, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Bombay Hospital, shares details about each of these types of cancers.
breast cancer
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. While it can be difficult to detect symptoms in the early stages, it is important for each of us to know the signs and symptoms so that a woman can identify potential risks.
Early signs of breast cancer include:
A new lump in the breast or armpit
Thickening or swelling in part of the breast
Change in the texture of the skin
Change in the size or shape of the breast
cervical cancer
Cervical cancer occurs when a mutation in a woman’s cervix connects her uterus with her vagina. This cancer can affect the deeper tissues of the cervix, and it may spread (metastasize) to other parts of her body, most often to the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina and rectum.
Here are the symptoms:
Bleeding between menstrual periods and after intercourse
Bleeding in postmenopausal women
Discomfort during intercourse
Vaginal discharge with a strong smell and tinged with blood
colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, begins in the rectum or colon. Both organs are located in the lower part of the digestive system. The colon is also known as the large intestine and the rectum at the end of the colon. Colorectal cancer may not have any symptoms, especially in the early stages.
If one experiences symptoms during the early stages, they may include:
Constipation and diarrhea
Changes in the color and shape of stool, such as narrow stools
blood in stool
Excessive gas
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate gland. This type of cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. However, they are more aggressive and can spread beyond the prostate gland, which can be fatal.
Symptoms include:
Mild pain in the lower pelvic area
– frequent urination
Difficulty passing urine, pain, burning, or poor urine flow
Blood in the urine (hematuria)
Painful ejaculation
We examined prostate tissue and urine samples from more than 600 men with and without prostate cancer, and when any of the five specific anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that can grow in the absence of oxygen) were detected in the patients’ samples, it was associated with faster development. From cancer to aggressive disease.
In fact, men who had one or more bacteria were nearly three times more likely to see early-stage cancer progressing to advanced disease, compared to men who didn’t have any of the bacteria in their urine or prostate.
We also explored potential mechanisms of how these bacteria are related to cancer, including potential effects on the metabolism of human host cells.
Towards a better test
Current tests for prostate cancer, such as the PSA test and biopsy, are not always able to predict which cancers will be harmful. Hopefully, a new test that looks for the ABBS bacteria group will be better able to detect and detect aggressive prostate cancer. The new test will be similar to tests developed to detect Helicobacter pylori associated with stomach cancer or HPV associated with cervical cancer.
With our colleagues, we are currently working on this. We plan to develop robust, rapid tests to detect the five distinct bacteria and to investigate new treatment options to remove these bacteria from the urinary tract, bladder and prostate.
Despite our exciting discovery, there are still important questions to answer, such as, do bacteria cause prostate cancer? If so, how? Also, can we use treatment options to eliminate the bacteria to prevent the development of aggressive disease? We hope to have answers to these questions soon.
(Article published by PTI via The Conversation)
World Cancer Day: Prostate cancer is an old man’s disease that affects sexual desire and other myths…
How well do you understand prostate cancer?
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland located between the bladder and the penis. This gland is responsible for protecting and nourishing the sperm and contributes to an increase in the amount of semen. Tumors in the prostate gland can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. It develops when abnormal cells in the prostate gland multiply and accumulate to form a tumor.
Screening and early detection plays a very important role in the management of prostate cancer as the disease can be controlled in its early stages with minimal medical intervention. Hence, awareness of risk factors, early warning signs, screening and treatment methodologies is critical to managing it and reducing morbidity rates.
On World Cancer Day, Dr. Rajesh Ahlawat, Group Chair – Urology and Andrology, Institute of Kidney and Urology at Medanta Multi Specialty Hospital, Gurgaon, Dispels Some Prostate Cancer Myths:
Myth: Only Older People Get Prostate Cancer
Fact: While most prostate cancer patients are over the age of 60, younger people are also at risk. Risk factors include family history, lifestyle, genetics, diet, obesity, and smoking.
Myth: In prostate cancer, you can feel a lump
Fact: Prostate cancer is largely asymptomatic. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may be caused by many other conditions or disorders as well. A common early symptom is problems urinating. Erectile dysfunction, painful ejaculation, blood in urine or semen, pain or stiffness in the lower back or groin area, unexplained weight loss or low energy levels are other less common symptoms.
Myth: Prostate cancer is always curable
Fact: When cancer is diagnosed early and confined to the prostate, success rates are higher. However, when prostate cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, treatment becomes more complex and difficult. The disease can never be cured if it spreads to areas outside the “prostate box”.
Myth: Surgery is the only treatment option
Fact: Surgery is one of the many treatment options available for prostate cancer. Another equally effective method of treating prostate cancer is radiation therapy. While there is limited data available about other minimally invasive treatments, procedures such as partial adenectomy, the use of heat or cold (cryotherapy) to kill prostate cancer cells within a portion of the prostate, high-intensity focused ultrasound, and nonsurgical treatment such as Ultrasound to heat and destroy prostate tissue is also another effective alternative at a very early stage if the disease is confined to a small area of the prostate gland.
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