Prevalence of <i>Campylobacter</i> Species, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>, Human Papillomavirus, and JC Polyomavirus in Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Iran

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disease with diverse gene expression patterns, which can arise from common adenomas or serrated polyps. The role of intestinal microbiota in the development of CRC is still a subject of debate.

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of a selection of gastrointestinal microbiota in Iranian patients with CRC.

A total of 86 biopsy specimens (17 samples from normal tissues and 69 samples from cancer tissues) were analyzed from normal controls and patients with CRC. The presence of Helicobacter pylori , Campylobacter species (including C. jejuni , C. coli , C. upsaliensis , C. bovis , and C. fetus ), as well as human papillomavirus (HPV) and JC polyomavirus (JCV) in tissue specimens, was examined using PCR.

The prevalence of the targeted bacterial and viral agents in CRC patients exhibited significant variations compared to normal controls. Notably, there was a higher prevalence of the Helicobacter genus in patients with CRC compared to normal controls. Patients with CRC were found to be at an increased risk of Campylobacter infection, with various Campylobacter species identified. Additionally, HPV and JCV genomes were detected in cancer samples at a higher rate than in normal controls.

Our findings demonstrated a higher prevalence of the Helicobacter genus, Campylobacter species, HPV, and JCV in patients with CRC compared to normal controls. However, further research is required to elucidate the potential role of these bacterial and viral agents in the development of CRC.