A bacterium that causes appendicitis and gum disease has been
detected in colon tumors, according to new research that
suggests it may set the stage for colorectal cancer, the second-
deadliest malignancy. Only lung cancer kills more people each
year. If the finding can be validated by larger studies,
fusobacterium might one day be used to prevent and screen for
colorectal cancer, currently detectable through colonoscopy or
tests for the presence of blood in the stool. fuscobacterium
also might play a role in determining the prognosis of
colorectal cancers and shaping their treatment, according to two
research teams independently reporting a relationship between
the rod-shaped microbe and cancers of the lower digestive
system. Fuscobacterium is a known player in disorders
characterized by inflammation, such as gum disease and
appendicitis. Scientists have tied some strains to two
inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
disease, both of which elevate the risk of colon cancer. In
addition to