Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41508656›Full record

ArticleCancer research communications2026

Fecal Sample Collection for Gut Microbiome Research in a Prospective Cohort: A Pilot Study within the Australian Breakthrough Cancer Study.

Simon Cheah, Jared Burke, Fiona J Bruinsma, Melanie Evans, Helen Tsimiklis, Allison M Hodge, Brigid M Lynch, Graham G Giles, Rashmi Sinha, Melissa C Southey and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer research communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Simon CheahCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0352-1165
Jared BurkePrecision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5962-0093
Fiona J BruinsmaCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9356-2015
Melanie EvansCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0919-2235
Helen TsimiklisPrecision Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0009-0006-0297-5460
Allison M HodgeCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5464-2197
Brigid M LynchCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8060-547X
Graham G GilesCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4946-9099
Rashmi SinhaDivision of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0002-2466-7462
Melissa C SoutheyCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6313-9005
Roger L MilneCancer Epidemiology Division, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5764-7268

Funding

Broomhead Family FoundationCancer Council VictoriaGandel FoundationPerpetual (Perpetual Ltd)Pf - Alan (AGL)Shaw Family Foundation (SFF)State Trustees Australia Foundation (STAF)Winifred and John Webster Charitable Trust Fund
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Large prospective analyses of human gut microbiome profiles are needed to elucidate the role of microbiome variation in the development of disease. We conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility of home fecal sample collection within a cohort study. A subset of cohort study participants was randomly selected and randomized into four groups defined by fecal sample collection method and questionnaire components. Of 1,093 invited participants, 610 (56%) opted-in, and of those, 88% returned a sample. Of those asked to provide a fecal sample via fecal occult blood test (FOBT) card and complete a short "day-of-sample" questionnaire, 49% returned a sample. Sample return was comparable for participants additionally asked to provide a sample via ethanol tube (51%), complete a food frequency questionnaire (48%), or complete both additional activities (49%). Whole-genome sequencing and metagenomic analysis on paired FOBT and ethanol samples showed that both collection methods provided sufficient quality and quantity of DNA for downstream metagenomic analyses and displayed highly concordant microbiome profiles. Home fecal sample collection for microbiome analysis is feasible in a large prospective cohort. Including additional components did not reduce the likelihood of participants completing all requested items. SIGNIFICANCE: The expansion of this successful pilot to the larger Australian Breakthrough Cancer Study will facilitate future metagenomic and other host- and microbiome-related analyses in this large prospective cohort and potentially as part of an extended international pooling project.

Indexed as

FecesGastrointestinal MicrobiomeNeoplasmsSpecimen HandlingAdultAgedAustraliaFemaleHumansMaleMetagenomicsMiddle AgedOccult BloodPilot ProjectsProspective StudiesSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID41508656
PMCPMC12784011

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Registered trials

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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.