Microbiota organization rather than composition is an underlying feature of many colorectal cancers

Sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) results from accumulated DNA mutations in colonic epithelial cells. Environmental factors clearly affect CRC incidence but the mechanisms through which these factors function are unknown. One prime candidate is an altered colonic microbiota that forms a biofilm associated with cell proliferation. High throughput 16S amplicon sequencing was performed on CRC and healthy colonoscopy mucosal biopsies to identify microbial members associated with biofilm and CRC status.