The significance of appendectomy in the context of colorectal cancer: impacts on gut microbiota and beyond.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most common malignancies globally, of which the initiative factors are multiple and complex. More recently, the major roles played by gut microbiota in the carcinogenesis of CRC have been uncovered, which indicates that dysbiosis caused by specific bacterial or fungal species may contribute to the malignant progression of CRC. Meanwhile, appendix, classically identified as an evolutionary relict with negligible physiological functions, has been found to play crucial roles in the immune modulation process and microbiome composition of gut by its lymphoid tissue features. In addition, appendectomy, a common surgical operation modality, has also been found to be closely correlated with the clinical outcomes of multiple diseases, including CRC. Naturally, these evidence collectively point to a possibility that the appendectomy may influence the pathological process of CRC through its impacts on gut microbiome.