Trimethylamine-N-oxide as One Hypothetical Link for the Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota and Cancer - Where We Are and Where Shall We Go?

Chan, Carmen Wing Han; Law, Bernard Man Hin; Waye, Mary Miu Yee; Chan, Judy Yuet Wa; So, Winnie Kwok Wei; Chow, Ka Ming

doi:10.7150/jca.31737

International Journal of Biological Sciences

International Journal of Medical Sciences

Theranostics

Journal of Genomics

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J Cancer 2019; 10(23):5874-5882. doi:10.7150/jca.31737 This issue Cite

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Trimethylamine-N-oxide as One Hypothetical Link for the Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota and Cancer - Where We Are and Where Shall We Go?

Carmen Wing Han Chan, Bernard Man Hin Law^✉, Mary Miu Yee Waye, Judy Yuet Wa Chan, Winnie Kwok Wei So, Ka Ming Chow

The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, the New Territories, Hong Kong, China.

Citation:

Chan CWH, Law BMH, Waye MMY, Chan JYW, So WKW, Chow KM. Trimethylamine-N-oxide as One Hypothetical Link for the Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota and Cancer - Where We Are and Where Shall We Go?. J Cancer 2019; 10(23):5874-5882. doi:10.7150/jca.31737. https://www.jcancer.org/v10p5874.htm

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Abstract

Previous epidemiological studies had provided evidence for a link between the microbial dysbiosis and cancer, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC), yet the molecular basis of this link remains elusive. Recently, the association between plasma levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an oxidised form of trimethylamine (TMA), and risks of various cancers was demonstrated. The discovery could potentially provide an alternative explanation for the aforementioned link, as TMA production is attributed to intestinal bacteria. Current evidence suggests that inflammation could be a potential molecular mechanism to explain the link between TMAO and cancer, although other mechanisms such as oxidative stress, DNA damage and disruption in protein folding might also play a role. This mini-review article first provides an overview of the current evidence for the association between TMAO and certain cancer types, and the potential mechanisms that could explain their association. Thereafter, the direction of further research on the connection between the intestinal microbiota, TMAO and cancer is suggested.

Keywords: cancer, trimethylamine, trimethylamine-N-oxide, intestinal microbiota

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APA

Chan, C.W.H., Law, B.M.H., Waye, M.M.Y., Chan, J.Y.W., So, W.K.W., Chow, K.M. (2019). Trimethylamine-N-oxide as One Hypothetical Link for the Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota and Cancer - Where We Are and Where Shall We Go?. Journal of Cancer, 10(23), 5874-5882. https://doi.org/10.7150/jca.31737.

ACS

Chan, C.W.H.; Law, B.M.H.; Waye, M.M.Y.; Chan, J.Y.W.; So, W.K.W.; Chow, K.M. Trimethylamine-N-oxide as One Hypothetical Link for the Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota and Cancer - Where We Are and Where Shall We Go?. J. Cancer 2019, 10 (23), 5874-5882. DOI: 10.7150/jca.31737.

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CSE

Chan CWH, Law BMH, Waye MMY, Chan JYW, So WKW, Chow KM. 2019. Trimethylamine-N-oxide as One Hypothetical Link for the Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota and Cancer - Where We Are and Where Shall We Go?. J Cancer. 10(23):5874-5882.

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