Dissecting microbiome–host crosstalk in epithelial, stromal, and immune compartments of primary and metastatic colorectal cancer

The gut microbiome has co-evolved with multicellular organisms since their earliest emergence and is now recognized as a key modulator of health and disease, including colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide and poses a substantial health burden, particularly in metastatic stages of the disease. This thesis investigates the role of the gut microbiome in CRC pathogenesis, with a focus on its interactions with components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including the epithelial, immune, and stromal compartments. Overall, this work elucidates how the gut microbiome influences CRC development and progression, both at primary and metastatic stages, through multifaceted interactions within the TME, underscoring the therapeutic potential of microbiome-targeted strategies in CRC.