Role of the Protozoa Cryptosporidium in the Development of Colorectal Cancer in Humans
It has been reported that Cryptosporidium parvum, a species of a protozoan frequently isolated from humans and animals, is able to induce digestive adenocarcinoma in a rodent model. Consistently, some epidemiological studies have reported an association with cryptosporidiosis in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. However, the correlation between cryptosporidiosis and human digestive cancer remains unclear at this time, and it is not known whether this intracellular parasite, considered an opportunistic agent, is able to induce gastrointestinal malignancies in humans. In order to add new arguments for a probable association between cryptosporidiosis and digestive human cancer, the main aim of this study is to determine prevalence and to identify species of Cryptosporidium among a French digestive cancer population.
⁃ Cases:
• Age ≥ 18 years old
• Patients with colonic adenocarcinoma/intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosed prior to chemotherapy or radiotherapy who will undergo scheduled surgery. Patients with rectal cancer with indication for neoadjuvant treatment will still be included, but only biopsies used for diagnosis will be used
• Patient capable of receiving informed information
• Written informed consent
• Affiliation to a social security scheme
⁃ Controls:
• Age ≥ 18 years old
• Patients with endoscopic indication for benign pathology
• Patients with indication for colectomy for benign pathology
• Patients with digestive cancer (stomach, oesophagus, biliary, pancreatic, etc.) of any type other than colorectal cancer before chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Patient capable of receiving informed information
• Written informed consent
• Affiliation to a social security scheme