Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the impact of perioperative administration of Bifidobacterium triplex viable capsules on the serum levels of circulating miR-21-5p, miR-135-5p, and miR-155-5p in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of this study is to provide a foundation for future research on the use of Bifidobacterium triplex viable capsules to enhance postoperative recovery in patients with CRC. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with primary CRC admitted to the Department of General Surgery at Shanxi Bethune Hospital between June 2020 and December 2020 were selected and randomly divided into two groups: 20 cases in the control group and 40 cases in the experimental group. The experimental group was administered oral Bifidobacterium triplex viable capsules during the perioperative period, while the control group was administered oral placebo. Before and after the perioperative period, the expression levels of miR-21-5p, miR-135-5p, and miR-155-5p were compared in the serum of both groups of patients. Furthermore, we established the prognostic value of these three miRNAs in CRC patients. RESULTS: After surgery, the expression levels of miR-21-5p, miR-135-5p, and miR-155-5p decreased in both groups of patients (P < 0.05). Significantly greater differences were observed between miR-21-5p and miR-135-5p (P < 0.001). Expression levels of serum miR-21-5p (P = 0.020) and miR-135-5p (P = 0.023) decreased significantly more in the experimental group than in the control group. The levels of the above three miRNAs after surgery did not correlate with 3-year OS (HR = 4.21; 95% CI 0.37-47.48; log-rank P = 0.20) or 3-year DFS (HR = 1.57; 95% CI 0.32-7.66; log-rank P = 0.55) in two groups. CONCLUSION: Radical surgery reduces the levels of serum miR-21-5p, miR-135-5p, and miR-155-5p expression in patients with CRC. The use of Bifidobacterium triplex viable capsules assists in achieving quicker perioperative recovery from radical surgery in CRC patients, and this underlying mechanism may be associated with the regulation of serum miR-21-5p, miR-135-5p, and miR-155-5p expression levels.