Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor that occurs in the colon. Gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CRC. Our previous studies showed that the soluble dietary fiber of foxtail millet (FMB-SDF) exhibited significant antitumor activity in vitro. The present study evaluated the anticancer potential of FMB-SDF in the azoxymethane (AOM)- and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse CRC models. The results showed that FMB-SDF could significantly alleviate colon cancer symptoms in mice. Further, we found that FMB-SDF consumption significantly altered gut microbiota diversity and the overall structure and regulated the abundance of some microorganisms in CRC mice. Meanwhile, KEGG pathway enrichment showed that FMB-SDF can also alleviate the occurrence of colon cancer in mice by regulating certain cancer-related signaling pathways. In conclusion, our findings may provide a novel approach for the prevention and biotherapy of CRC.
Keywords: AOM/DSS; colorectal cancer; foxtail millet; gut microbiome; soluble dietary fiber.