Much research on the microbiota
Pr Bertrand Tombal, urologist at the Saint-Luc university clinics, recontextualizes this discovery: ” There is a lot of research on the importance of the role of the microbiota in cancers, particularly in France by Laurence Zitvogel .At UCLouvain, we have a researcher like Patrice Dogs which studies the role of the microbiota on several diseases .”
And for prostate cancer, in particular?” For years we have been wondering about the relationship between chronic colonization by a series of bacteria and the risk of developing prostate cancer. 15 years ago, we thought it was germs that were in the prostate in patients who had prostatitis. Then over time, we realized that it was the intestinal microbial flora, which we now call the microbiota. “
Help with prognosis
The originality of the British study, according to Professor Tombal, is that it gives a bacterial signature: ” If you have this type of bacteria, you have a higher risk of cancer. “
A journal article Medscape on the British discovery underlines that this knowledge of the five bacteria linked to cancer offers a new biomarker to the medical profession. For Professor Tombal, this is not really useful because there are already many tools, including genetics, which classify prostate cancer. ” For example, for patients treated by radiotherapy, we have genetic signatures obtained by biopsy of the prostate, which make it possible to say whether or not the patient needs hormones. In the 40 to 50% of cancers that are not treated , but just monitored, we have genetic signatures that reassure borderline cases, to see if we should treat or not .”
Help with prevention
This discovery of bacteria linked to aggressive cancer is very interesting for the prevention of prostate cancer, according to the Belgian urologist. ” To launch an effective prevention campaign, it is important to identify populations at risk. For example, out of 1000 men, 2 will die from prostate cancer. It is essential to identify in advance the people at risk of prostate cancer. And there, our genetic tests are not super-efficient. “
So a test at 50 might say: ” You do not have cancer, but you have an unfavorable microbiota .” ” And there, that can lead to interventions of the hygieno-dietetic type, to modify the microbiota. We can act upstream. We have found a signature of bacteria involved in prostate cancer, that opens up prospects. “