Bacteria in the urine indicate prostate cancer – healing practice

Detect prostate cancer from bacteria in urine

prostate cancer is responsible for a large proportion of cancer deaths in men. An English research team could now five types of bacteria identify that are indicative of prostate cancer. The bacteria can be over the detect urine. In addition, the findings open up new insights into the course of the disease.

researchers of University of East Anglia (UEA) have five types of bacteria in urine identified that on aggressive forms of prostate cancer Clues. The research results, which were recently published in the journal “European Urology Oncology“ were presented, open up new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Link between bacteria and cancer

“We already know of some strong links between infections and Cancer“explains project leader Professor Colin Cooper from the medical school of the UEA. For example, Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the digestive tract can lead to gastric ulcers, which in turn are linked to the development of gastric cancer.

Cooper’s team wanted to find out if bacteria were linked to the way prostate cancer grows and spreads. In addition, some types of prostate cancer are particularly aggressive, while others are rather harmless.

Do certain bacteria influence the course?

“Little is known about what causes some prostate cancers to become more aggressive than others”emphasizes Dr. Jeremy Clark from the research team. The current study provides the first evidence that bacteria could be involved in this process.

The working group analyzed urine and tissue samples from over 600 participants. Part of the group had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The researchers paid particular attention to the types of bacteria found in the samples.

“We used many different methods to track down the bacteria, including whole genome sequencing of the tissue samples”reports study lead author Dr. Rachel Hurst.

New types of bacteria discovered

“We have found several types of bacteria associated with aggressive prostate cancer, some of which are new types of bacteria that have never been found before”points out Hurst.

These bacteria indicate prostate cancer

According to the study, the five groups of bacteria associated with aggressive prostate cancer are

• anaerococcus,
• Peptoniphilus,
• porphyromonas,
• fenolaria,
• Fusobacterium.

All of these groups of bacteria are anaerobicthat is, they reproduce predominantly at absence of oxygen.

“When one of these specific anaerobic bacterial species was detected in patient samples, it was associated with the presence of a higher grade of prostate cancer and more aggressive disease progression.”, sums up Dr. Hurst.

cause or effect?

It is currently still unclear whether the bacteria are a consequence of the disease or whether the cancer is caused or aggravated by the bacteria. Future studies that start at this point could show new ways in which prostate cancer can be treated or prevented. (vb)