Perioperative changes in the microbiome during rectal cancer surgery: exploratory analysis of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) IntAct trial
Exploratory analysis reveals shifts in gut microbiome during rectal cancer surgery, suggesting links to postoperative outcomes.
Key Points
Substantial changes in the gut microbiome were observed in rectal cancer surgery patients, particularly in beta-diversity.
At baseline, smoking influenced 3.2% of beta-diversity variation, with hospital site impacting diversity in the perioperative phase.
This observational analysis utilized rectal swab samples and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing for microbiome profiling.
Findings highlight that while no major differences were seen in alpha or beta-diversity related to anastomotic leak, further exploration of these dynamics is necessary.