This study reveals that the production of cobalamin and succinyl-CoA is increased in the anal microbiome of patients with precancerous anal lesions. Testing for these two metabolites significantly improves diagnostic accuracy over standard cytology screening, which suggests potential for enhanced screening strategies for anal cancer.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Elnaggar, J. H. et al. LSIL-related anal cancer is associated with changes in the anorectal microbiome during cancer development. Front. Immunol. 14, 1051431 (2023). This study associated some bacteria of the anal microbiome with anal cancer, with potential implications for disease screening and understanding carcinogenesis.
Clifford, G. M. et al. A meta-analysis of anal cancer incidence by risk group: toward a unified anal cancer risk scale. Int. J. Cancer 148, 38–40 (2020). This study provided robust estimates of anal cancer incidence rates across high-risk population groups, establishing a risk scale that could guide prioritization in anal cancer prevention and research initiatives.
Palefsky, J. M. et al. Treatment of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions to prevent anal cancer. N. Engl. J. Med. 386, 2273–2282 (2022). This large, randomized control trial concluded that treatment of biopsy-proven HSILs in people living with HIV reduces the risk of progression to anal cancer.
Clarke, M. A. & Wentzensen, N. A systematic review and meta-analysis of cytology and HPV-related biomarkers for anal cancer screening among different risk groups. Cancer Cytopathol. 126, 447–460 (2018). This review discusses differences between anal cancer and cervical cancer, with a focus on cancer screening methods.
Barroso, L. F., Stier, E. A., Hillman, R. & Palefsky, J. M. Anal cancer screening and prevention: summary of evidence reviewed for the 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sexually transmitted infection guidelines. Clin. Infect. Dis 74, S179–S192 (2022). This review evaluates current anal cancer screening and prevention methods, and provides recommendations for various populations at risk.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Serrano-Villar, S. et al. Microbiome-derived cobalamin and succinyl-CoA as biomarkers for improved screening of anal cancer. Nat. Med. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02407-3 (2023).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
How the microbiome can help detect precancerous lesions and prevent anal cancer. Nat Med 29, 1619–1620 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02421-5
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02421-5
