TI 07.001_021

Unravelling the secretome of Fusobacterium nucleatum in Nrf2-related carcinogenesis in colorectal cancer

01/10/2024 to 31/03/2026

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, making it a major global health problem. Mortality rates are alarmingly high, especially when the disease is diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage, which is often associated with a poor prognosis. Among the known risk factors for the development of CRC, the intestinal microbiome has become increasingly important in recent years. The anaerobic bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum (FN) has been identified as an important player in tumourigenesis due to its ability to infiltrate host cells and promote protumorigenic signalling pathways. However, our preliminary work indicates that FN also secretes substances into the surrounding medium that can activate signalling pathways in eukaryotic cells that can promote tumourigenesis. These observations emphasise the need for further studies on FN. The findings could lead to the development of new, innovative screening methods for early detection and therapeutic
strategies.