Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing
Recent studies suggested a potential connection between gut microbiota changes and cancer onset. However, conflicting results make it challenging to understand the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in cancer, particularly in underrepresented populations like those in Southeast Asia. To address this g...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Research
2025
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/1/120158.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848868126357192704 |
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| author | Sidi Omar, Siti Farah Norasyikeen Ai, Yvonne Lian Lim Ab Rahman, Syaza Zafirah Muslim, Azdayanti Ayub, Qasim Amin-Nordin, Syafinaz Joseph, Vesudian Narcisse Mary Sither Musa, Sabri Jinam, Timothy Ngui, Romano |
| author_facet | Sidi Omar, Siti Farah Norasyikeen Ai, Yvonne Lian Lim Ab Rahman, Syaza Zafirah Muslim, Azdayanti Ayub, Qasim Amin-Nordin, Syafinaz Joseph, Vesudian Narcisse Mary Sither Musa, Sabri Jinam, Timothy Ngui, Romano |
| author_sort | Sidi Omar, Siti Farah Norasyikeen |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Recent studies suggested a potential connection between gut microbiota changes and cancer onset. However, conflicting results make it challenging to understand the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in cancer, particularly in underrepresented populations like those in Southeast Asia. To address this gap, we analysed the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in 65 faecal samples, which included 48 from cancer patients with various malignancies and 17 from healthy controls. Patients were categorised into four groups: symptomatic patients undergoing cancer treatment, asymptomatic pre-treatment and during cancer treatment, and healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted, and the V3-V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene was sequenced. Our findings revealed significant differences in the alpha diversity (p ≤ 0.05) between cancer patients and controls. Asymptomatic patients under treatment showed slightly lower alpha diversity than pre-treatment patients, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). We identified 13 genera with over 20% difference in abundance between patient groups and controls. Asymptomatic patients receiving treatment and pre-treatment patients exhibited enrichment in Enterococcus, whereas Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Brevundimonas, and Pseudomonas were significantly reduced compared to controls. Symptomatic patients had higher levels of Enterococcus and Staphylococcus, while Ruminococcus was enriched in asymptomatic patients. These underscore the distinct differences in gut microbiota composition between cancer patients and healthy individuals, particularly in symptomatic cases with potential biomarkers such as Enterococcus, Prevotella, and Faecalibacterium. Our study suggests that cancer treatment may not significantly alter the gut profile of cancer patients. Further research is needed to comprehend the implications of these findings fully. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:47:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-120158 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:47:26Z |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Nature Research |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1201582025-09-24T02:28:40Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/ Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing Sidi Omar, Siti Farah Norasyikeen Ai, Yvonne Lian Lim Ab Rahman, Syaza Zafirah Muslim, Azdayanti Ayub, Qasim Amin-Nordin, Syafinaz Joseph, Vesudian Narcisse Mary Sither Musa, Sabri Jinam, Timothy Ngui, Romano Recent studies suggested a potential connection between gut microbiota changes and cancer onset. However, conflicting results make it challenging to understand the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in cancer, particularly in underrepresented populations like those in Southeast Asia. To address this gap, we analysed the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in 65 faecal samples, which included 48 from cancer patients with various malignancies and 17 from healthy controls. Patients were categorised into four groups: symptomatic patients undergoing cancer treatment, asymptomatic pre-treatment and during cancer treatment, and healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted, and the V3-V4 region of the 16 S rRNA gene was sequenced. Our findings revealed significant differences in the alpha diversity (p ≤ 0.05) between cancer patients and controls. Asymptomatic patients under treatment showed slightly lower alpha diversity than pre-treatment patients, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). We identified 13 genera with over 20% difference in abundance between patient groups and controls. Asymptomatic patients receiving treatment and pre-treatment patients exhibited enrichment in Enterococcus, whereas Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Brevundimonas, and Pseudomonas were significantly reduced compared to controls. Symptomatic patients had higher levels of Enterococcus and Staphylococcus, while Ruminococcus was enriched in asymptomatic patients. These underscore the distinct differences in gut microbiota composition between cancer patients and healthy individuals, particularly in symptomatic cases with potential biomarkers such as Enterococcus, Prevotella, and Faecalibacterium. Our study suggests that cancer treatment may not significantly alter the gut profile of cancer patients. Further research is needed to comprehend the implications of these findings fully. Nature Research 2025 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/1/120158.pdf Sidi Omar, Siti Farah Norasyikeen and Ai, Yvonne Lian Lim and Ab Rahman, Syaza Zafirah and Muslim, Azdayanti and Ayub, Qasim and Amin-Nordin, Syafinaz and Joseph, Vesudian Narcisse Mary Sither and Musa, Sabri and Jinam, Timothy and Ngui, Romano (2025) Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Scientific Reports, 15 (1). art. no. 21723. pp. 1-14. ISSN 2045-2322 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06983-x?error=cookies_not_supported&code=13efc15a-c44d-402f-a59a-6c408731fbac 10.1038/s41598-025-06983-x |
| spellingShingle | Sidi Omar, Siti Farah Norasyikeen Ai, Yvonne Lian Lim Ab Rahman, Syaza Zafirah Muslim, Azdayanti Ayub, Qasim Amin-Nordin, Syafinaz Joseph, Vesudian Narcisse Mary Sither Musa, Sabri Jinam, Timothy Ngui, Romano Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| title | Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| title_full | Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| title_fullStr | Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| title_short | Characterisation of gut microbiota in Malaysian cancer patients using V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing |
| title_sort | characterisation of gut microbiota in malaysian cancer patients using v3-v4 region of 16s rrna gene sequencing |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120158/1/120158.pdf |