Gastroenterology

Impeding Quorum Sensing Among the Intestinal Microbiota Impacts the Metastatic Rate of Colorectal Cancer

Ethan Littlefield

25 Jun 2025 — 1 min read

PMCID: PMC12177794

PMID: 40536191

DOI: 10.1002/cam4.71009

Journal: Cancer medicine

Publication Date: 2025-6-19

Authors: Dietz M, Gates TJ, Sikdar R, Subramanian S, Elias MH, et al.

Key Points

QQ lactonase treatment demonstrated sex-specific effects on CRC metastasis
Male mice treated with SsoPox showed 0% metastasis compared to 30% in control group
Potential for developing novel CRC therapies targeting bacterial communication systems

Summary

This preclinical study investigated the role of quorum quenching (QQ) lactonases in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis, revealing striking sex-specific differences in treatment response. Using a mouse model of aggressive CRC with multiple genetic mutations, researchers found that QQ treatment with SsoPox enzyme dramatically reduced metastasis in male mice (0% metastasis) while paradoxically increasing metastatic potential in female mice (100% metastasis rate).

Notably, the QQ treatment minimally impacted the gut microbiome composition, inflammatory markers, and short-chain fatty acid production. The researchers hypothesize that the divergent responses may be linked to sex-specific endocrine interactions, potentially involving testosterone and estradiol levels, which could modulate bacterial quorum sensing and cancer progression. While the study is preliminary and limited by sample size, it suggests a promising avenue for developing targeted CRC therapies that exploit microbial communication mechanisms.

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