Can gut bugs cause prostate cancer - and can stopping them prevent the disease?

What you need to know

• Professor de Bono is studying how gut bacteria can cause prostate cancer.
• The researchers aim to develop a test to detect these bacteria, which could give an idea of a man’s risk of prostate cancer.
• They also aim to find ways to prevent or treat prostate cancer by changing the gut bacteria.

What will Professor de Bono and his team do?

Professor de Bono’s team is studying how bacteria in the gut, called the microbiome, are linked to prostate cancer.

The microbiome is made up of many types of bacteria that help with digestion. Sometimes, however, these bacteria can become abnormal and produce chemicals that can trigger inflammation and DNA damage in prostate cells, leading to the development and growth of prostate cancer.

The goal of this research is to learn more about some of the chemicals that these abnormal gut bacteria make, that can cause prostate cancer and to find ways to prevent or treat the disease by changing the microbiome.

The team will look at stool (poo) samples from men with prostate cancer to find the specific bacteria that can produce these harmful chemicals and will develop tests to detect these bacteria and chemicals in stool and blood samples. They will then conduct experiments to see if targeting these chemicals, or the abnormal gut bacteria that produce them, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

They will also look at the role of a specific protein that is involved in the development of prostate cancer, and whether drugs can target this protein to help stop the growth of prostate cancer.

Finally, Professor de Bono and his team will investigate how to change the abnormal gut bacteria associated with prostate cancer, and whether this can help prevent the development of the disease.

How will this benefit men?

By understanding how gut bacteria can cause prostate cancer and finding ways to prevent or treat the disease, Professor de Bono's research could have a significant impact on the lives of men affected by prostate cancer.

If the research is successful, it could lead to new treatments or prevention strategies for prostate cancer that target the microbiome. This could help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men, or help to slow or stop the growth of the cancer in those who have already been diagnosed. It could also potentially improve the effectiveness of current treatments for prostate cancer by targeting the microbiome in combination with other therapies.

In addition, if Professor de Bono can develop tests to detect the harmful bacteria and chemicals in the stool and blood of men with prostate cancer, it could be possible to find men at risk of the disease before they develop symptoms. This could allow doctors to start treatment earlier, which could help improve the chances of a successful outcome.

Grant information

Reference: RIA21-ST2-016
Researcher: Professor Johann de Bono
Institution: The Institute of Cancer Research, London
Award: £448,252