Assessment of Cryptosporidium Infection in Colorectal Cancer patients: insights from Parasitological, Histopathological and Genetic Studies | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 01 July 2026 PDF (917.77 K) | ||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.440735.1985 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Amany I. Ammar* 1; Mona F. Faheem1; Mohammed N. Nassar2; Shaimaa Y. Abdel Raouf3; Gehad R.A. El-Gapharawy4; Fatma Shaalan1 | ||
| 1Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt | ||
| 2Department of General and GIT Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt | ||
| 3Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt | ||
| 4Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies globally. While its causes are complex, researchers are increasingly looking at infections as a possible trigger. One suspect is the parasite Cryptosporidium (C.). It is increasingly detected in CRC patients, yet its pathological role remains undefined. Objectives: this research focuses on understanding the potential influence of Cryptosporidium infection on colorectal carcinogenesis. Methodology: This study analyzed 102 CRC patients, grouped by Cryptosporidium infection status (GI: 79, negative for infection, GII: 23 positive for infection), assessed by using histopathological, immunohistochemical (Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) and genetic (β-catenin) alterations between infected and non-infected individuals. Results: Among the CRC cases examined, 22.5% were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium infection. No significant demographic differences in age, sex, or residence were found between the two groups. All CRC patients were conventional adenocarcinoma. NF-κB showed nuclear expression in both groups and significant downregulation of E-cadherin recorded in both groups. The β-catenin gene expression was increased in all colorectal cancer patients. Conclusion: The study suggests Cryptosporidium infection may function as a risk factor by modulating the tumor microenvironment to facilitate carcinogenesis, but its presence does not subsequently accelerate disease progression or increase aggressiveness as measured by standard pathological markers. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Colorectal cancer; Cryptosporidium; β-catenin; NF-κB; E-cadherin | ||
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