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It has recently been recognized that invasive biofilms composed of complex polymicrobial communities residing within polymeric matrices are present along mucosal surfaces in a number of inflammatory disease states. Normally, a protective mucus layer covers the colonic epithelium, preventing direct tissue contact with microbial cells. Given that mucosal inflammation may contribute to the development of colorectal cancer, might invasive biofilms be present within the colons of individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC)? To address this question, investigators analyzed colonic tissue samples from patients with and without CRC for the presence of biofilms.
Samples from the U.S. revealed biofilms on 13 (87%) of 15 tumors and 4 of 4 adenomas in the …