Prevalence of genotoxic bacteria in men undergoing biopsy for prostate cancer. Issue 7 (26th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, John; Wickes, Brian L.; Fu, Jianmin; Brockman, Nohelli E.; Garg, Harshit; Jobin, Christian; Johson‐Pais, Teresa; Leach, Robin; Lai, Zhao; Liss, Michael A.
• Is Part Of: Prostate. Volume 83:Issue 7(2023)
• Page Start: 663
• Page End: 669
• Publication Date: 2023-02-26
• Subjects: E. coli -- genotoxin -- prostate cancer -- urinary microbiome; Prostate -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/pros.24500
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0270-4137

Abstract

Abstract: Background: New evidence suggests that bacteria‐produced DNA toxins may have a role in the development or progression of prostate cancer. To determine the prevalence of these genes in a noninfection (i.e., colonized) state, we screened urine specimens in men before undergoing a biopsy for prostate cancer detection. Methods: We developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction using three of the most described bacterial genotoxin gene primers: Colibactin (polyketone synthase [ pks ] gene island: clbN and clbB ), cytotoxic necrotizing factor ( cnf1 ) toxin, and cytolethal distending toxin B ( cdtB ) represented gene islands. After calibration on Escherichia coli samples of known genotypes, we used a training and validation cohort. We performed multiplex testing on a training cohort of previously collected urine from 45 men undergoing prostate biopsy. For the validation cohort, we utilized baseline urine samples from a previous randomized clinical trial ( n = 263) with known prostate cancer outcomes. Results: The prevalence of four common bacterial genotoxin genes detected in the urine before prostate biopsy for prostate cancer is 8% (25/311). The prevalence of pks island ( clbN and clbB), cnf1, and cdt toxin genes are 6.1%, 2.4%, and 1.7%, respectively. We found no association between urinary genotoxins and prostate cancer ( p = 0.83). We did identify a higher proportion of low‐grade cancer (92% vs. 44%) in those men positive for urinary genotoxin and higher‐grade cancer in those genotoxin negative (8% vs. 56%, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of urinary genotoxins is low and does not correspond to a prostate cancer diagnosis. The urine was taken at one point in time and does not rule out the possibility of previous exposure.