How gut bacteria can help prevent prostate cancer 

Principal Investigator:
Vincent Fradet, Université Laval

• Sandra Isabel, Université Laval
• David Labbé, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre/Institut de recherche du Centre universitaire de santé McGill

Problem: Aggressive prostate cancer can change a person’s gut bacteria, which in turn help sustain the cancer. Currently, we don’t know exactly what changes are a sign of aggressive cancer or whether dietary supplements can reduce the aggressiveness of the disease.

Solution: Dr Vincent Fradet and colleagues will study the gut bacteria of people at risk of prostate cancer to see which changes are associated with higher risk. They will also change the gut bacteria in model organisms and samples to better understand how different bacterial populations affect disease risk and aggression.

Impact: Understanding the gut bacteria associated with prostate cancer risk may help us better predict and prevent the disease. Knowing which bacteria contribute to disease aggression could lead to the development of treatments like dietary supplements that can improve outcomes for people with prostate cancer.