Abstract 5125: The relationship between microbiome Fusobacterium nucleatum and autophagy in esophageal cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background: Research into the microbiome is a rapidly advancing field in human cancers. The gut microbiome has recently been shown to play an important role in health, as well as in diseases such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and several types of cancers. Fusobacterium nucleatum is a component of the human microbiome that primarily inhabits the oral cavity. It causes periodontal disease and has also been implicated in the development of human cancers. We have recently reported that Fusobacterium nucleatum in esophageal cancer tissues was associated with shorter survival, suggesting a potential role as a prognostic biomarker. In addition, It has been revealed that Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes chemoresistance to colorectal cancer by modulating autophagy. Nonetheless, the relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and autophagy in esophageal cancers have been still unknown. We constructed this study to examine the relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and autophagy. Methods: Using 284 esophageal cancers, we detected ATG-7 and ULK -1 expression by IHC staining in tumors. Results: 21% cases showed ATG-7 positive and 25% cases showed ULK-1 positive. ATG-7 and ULK-1 expression in Fusobacterium nucleatum-positive tumors were significantly higher compared with that of Fusobacterium nucleatum-negative tumors (P=0.026 and P=0.0077). In addition, ATG-7 expression was associated with cancer-specific survival rate in esophageal cancer patients (P=0.0496). There was no relationship of ULK-1 expression and prognosis. Conclusion: Fusobacterium nucleatum was related with ATG-7 and ULK-1. Our findings may shed lights on understanding the mechanism by which Fusobacterium nucleatum affects chemoresistance in esophageal cancer. Citation Format: Yang Liu, Yoshifumi Baba, Shigeki Nakagawa, Hiroshi Sawayama, Takatsugu Ishimoto, Masaaki Iwatsuki, Yoichi Yamashita, Yuji Miyamoto, Naoya Yoshida, Hideo Baba. The relationship between microbiome Fusobacterium nucleatum and autophagy in esophageal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5125.