Urinary Microbiota and Prostate Cancer in West Africa: A Pilot Case-Control Study in Côte d'Ivoire
Safiatou Coulibaly, Gbonon Valérie Carole Mbengue, Djeda Franck Arnaud Gnahore, Gnogbo Alexis Bahi, Issoufou Coulibaly, Egomli Stanislas Assohoun, Flore Bernadette DiploPURPOSE
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the leading male cancer in Africa, most often diagnosed at advanced stages with high mortality. Although classical risk factors are well established, the role of the urinary microbiota (UM) in disease development represents a promising emerging field. Long considered sterile, urine harbors specific microbial communities whose dysbiosis has been associated with various urological conditions. Mechanisms such as chronic inflammation, immune modulation, and the detection of bacterial DNA in cancerous prostatic tissue suggest a potential link with PCa. Importantly, no study has yet characterized the UM in relation to PCa in sub-Saharan African patients, even though this population carries a higher risk. This pilot study aims to fill this gap by comparing the composition and diversity of the UM between PCa patients and healthy controls, in order to identify disease-associated bacterial markers and guide personalized therapeutic strategies.
METHODS
This is a case-control study conducted at the Department of Urology of the Cocody University Hospital Center and at the Institut Pasteur of Côte d'Ivoire (IPCI). The study will enroll 11 men diagnosed with PCa and 11 control men with a PSA level below 4 ng/mL and a negative urine culture. The UM will be characterized through metagenomic sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene using the Oxford Nanopore sequencing platform. Taxonomic classification, alpha diversity indices and beta diversity will be determined using the epi2me workflow-16s. Differential microbial signatures between groups will then be identified using the ANCOM-BC method.
RESULTS
This study is expected to provide a comprehensive characterization of the composition and diversity of the UM in PCa patients and control subjects in Côte d'Ivoire, as well as the identification of potentially disease-associated marker microorganisms across the studied populations.
CONCLUSION
This pilot study will establish validated procedures for the collection, transport, and analysis of the urinary microbiota from urine samples, while generating preliminary data to support future investigations aimed at enrolling larger and more diverse cohorts, as well as assessing the influence of environmental and sociocultural factors within West African populations.