Title: Significant Presence of Clostridioides difficile in Colorectal Cancer Patients by TaqMan Real-Time PCR

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the potential contribution of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) to colorectal cancer (CRC) by comparing its presence in CRC patients and healthy individuals. Methods: This study was conducted on ۲۵ CRC patients referring to the colorectal department of a major hospital in Tehran from June ۲۰۱۱ to May ۲۰۱۲. CRC patients confirmed by colonoscopy and pathological examination underwent a cancer staging process according to the TNM staging system provided by the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Also, ۲۵ healthy individuals serving as the control group were included. DNA was extracted from ۵۰۰ mg of stool sample of each patient and healthy volunteer. TaqMan real-time PCR was performed on DNA samples to detect C. difficile DNA using specific primers and probe targeting the ۱۶s rRNA gene. The mean of triplicate reactions were considered as the final Ct values. Results: All patients were in stage III, and tumor location was recorded in the colon for all patients. In the CRC group, ۲۰ individuals exhibited the presence of C. difficile, while in the control group, only ۵ out of ۲۵ people tested positive for this bacterium, and this difference was statistically significant (p< .۰۰۱). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a higher incidence of C. difficile in CRC patients compared to healthy individuals, suggesting that the presence of C. difficile may play a significant role in the progression of CRC. Early identification and management of CDI are crucial and challenging aspects of CRC patient care.

کلیدواژه ها:

Clostridioides difficile ، Colorectal cancer ، Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) ، Real-time PCR