Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40815346›Full record

ArticleMolecular biology reports2025

Assessing the role of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in colorectal cancer oncogene expression: insights from microbial colonization phenotypes.

Samin Davoody, Zahra Tayebi, Mohsen Sharif-Zak, Mehdi Azizmohammad Looha, Nazanin Mortezaei Ferizhandy, Sahar Sadeghi Mofrad, Hamidreza Houri

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Article in Molecular biology reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Frontiers in microbiology · 2026
    Review
  4. Secretion of Extracellular Microvesicles Induced by a Fraction ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Samin DavoodyStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zahra TayebiDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, TeMS.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Mohsen Sharif-ZakGastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mehdi Azizmohammad LoohaBasic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Nazanin Mortezaei FerizhandyFoodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sahar Sadeghi MofradDepartment of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University of Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.
Hamidreza HouriFoodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. hr.houri@sbmu.ac.ir.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6813-0229

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health burden, ranking as the third most prevalent malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, with emerging evidence implicating the gut microbiome as a key contributor. Specific pathobionts, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, have been linked to CRC progression due to their pro-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the association of E. coli and K. pneumoniae with CRC tissues and their influence on oncogenic gene expression, particularly within the TGF-β, Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, Rho GTPase, and EGFR/MAPK signaling pathways.

methodsUsing both culture and molecular-based methods, we analyzed 100 CRC patient biopsies from Taleghani Hospital, Tehran (July 2021-May 2023), assessing bacterial presence and the expression of 19 CRC-associated genes. Adhesion and invasion capabilities of isolates were evaluated in Caco-2 cells.

resultsWhile clinical parameters (e.g., age, survival, tumor stage) did not differ significantly between bacterial groups, gene expression analysis revealed elevated FOLH1 and MAP2K1 in adhesive-invasive K. pneumoniae isolates and increased FOLH1 in E. coli-positive samples. Tumor stage- and site-specific variations were observed, such as heightened ANXA3 expression in Stage I tumors harboring K. pneumoniae. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated overlapping oncogenic profiles, suggesting complex, context-dependent microbial influences.

conclusionsOur findings indicate that E. coli and K. pneumoniae may exert nuanced, tumor-specific effects on oncogenic pathways, potentially mediated more by chronic inflammation than direct gene dysregulation. Further studies employing single-cell RNA sequencing are warranted to elucidate these interactions and their translational potential for CRC diagnostics and therapeutics.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsEscherichia coliKlebsiella pneumoniaeAgedCaco-2 CellsFemaleGastrointestinal MicrobiomeGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMaleMiddle AgedOncogenesPhenotypeColorectal cancerEscherichia coliKlebsiella pneumoniaeOncogenic pathwaysPathobionts

Identifiers

PMID40815346

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.