Cryptosporidium and Colon Cancer: Cause or Consequence?

Manasi Sawant (1) , Martha Baydoun (1, 2) , Colette Creusy (3) , Magali Chabé (1, 4) , Eric Viscogliosi (1) , Gabriela Certad (1, 3) , Sadia Benamrouz-Vanneste (1, 5)

1 CIIL - Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille - INSERM U 1019 - UMR 9017 - UMR 8204
2 ONCO-THAI - Thérapies Laser Assistées par l'Image pour l'Oncologie - U 1189
3 GHICL - Groupement des Hôpitaux de l'Institut Catholique de Lille
4 Université de Lille
5 ICL - Institut Catholique de Lille

The number of cancers attributable to infectious agents represents over 20% of the global cancer burden. The apicomplexan intracellular parasite Cryptosporidium is currently considered one of the major causes of mild and severe diarrhea worldwide. However, less attention has been paid to its tumorigenic potential despite the high exposure of humans and animals to this ubiquitous parasite. Herein, we discuss the potential causal link between Cryptosporidium infection and digestive cancer, with particular emphasis on colon cancer, based on increasing clinical, epidemiological and experimental pieces of evidence supporting this association. In addition, we highlight the current knowledge about the potential mechanisms by which this parasite may contribute to cell transformation and parasite-induced cancer.

Mots clés: Cryptosporidium infection; infection and cancer; digestive cancer; colon cancer; carcinogenesis

Domaines: Maladies infectieuses; Cancer; Parasitologie

Manasi Sawant, Martha Baydoun, Colette Creusy, Magali Chabé, Eric Viscogliosi, et al.. Cryptosporidium and Colon Cancer: Cause or Consequence?. Microorganisms, 2021, 8 (11), pp.1665. ⟨10.3390/microorganisms8111665⟩. ⟨hal-03086924⟩