Published online Mar 15, 2018. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v10.i3.71
Peer-review started: December 8, 2017
First decision: December 22, 2017
Revised: January 9, 2018
Accepted: March 6, 2018
Article in press: March 6, 2018
Published online: March 15, 2018
Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a Gram-negative obligate anaerobe bacterium in the oral cavity and plays a role in several oral diseases, including periodontitis and gingivitis. Recently, several studies have reported that the level of F. nucleatum is significantly elevated in human colorectal adenomas and carcinomas compared to that in adjacent normal tissue. Several researchers have also demonstrated that F. nucleatum is obviously associated with colorectal cancer and promotes the development of colorectal neoplasms. In this review, we have summarized the recent reports on F. nucleatum and its role in colorectal cancer and have highlighted the methods of detecting F. nucleatum in colorectal cancer, the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis, immunity status, and colorectal cancer prevention strategies that target F. nucleatum.
Core tip: Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) promotes the progress of colorectal adenomas involving in multiple potential mechanisms. F. nucleatum positivity in colorectal cancer (CRC) is different in different research groups. Some potential biomarkers may be regarded as a criterion for judging CRC prognosis. Some chemoprevention and immunotherapy strategies on F. nucleatum-positive colorectal cancer need to be further explored in the future.