In another study published in Science Daily, colon cancer being caused by bacteria and cell stress was analysed.
“With our study we originally wanted to study the role of bacteria in the intestines in the development of intestinal inflammation,” explained Professor Dirk Haller from the Department of Nutrition and Immunology at the Weihenstephan Science Centre of the TUM.
He continued: “However, the surprising result for us was the discovery that bacteria together with stress in cells caused tumours (exclusively in the colon) and without the involvement of inflammation.
“In certain patients, the protein ATF6 could serve as a diagnostic marker for an increased risk of colon cancer and could indicate the start of therapy at an early stage.
“A microbial therapy is conceivable, when we know more about the composition of the bacterial flora.
“What now became clear, however is that chronic inflammation has no effect on cancer development in the colon.”