Title: Association between colorectal cancer, the frequency of Bacteroides fragilis, and the
levels of mismatch repair genes expression in the biopsy samples of Iranian patients
Version: 2 Date: 26 Oct 2023
Reviewer:  Oscar Medina-Contreras
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript by Nazarinejad et al. aims to identify the expression levels of mismatch repair
genes and associate them with the relative frequency of Bacteroides fragilis in colorectal cancer.
The authors identified an increase in the levels of msh2, msh6, mlh1, and this expression was
associated with an increase in B. fragilis, suggesting a possible relationship between microbiota
and mismatch repair in colorectal cancer.
The author performed a detailed spatial characterization of the MR gene expression, and
identified interesting regional differences.
Based on all of these findings, it is pertinent to investigate the frequency of this bacterium in
CRC samples. This will enable us to predict cancer progression more quickly and prevent its
development. Furthermore, because MMR genes play an important role in cancer development
and progression, further studies may be able to establish their importance as factors in the proper
diagnosis of cancer or its advanced stage.
The manuscript needs deep proofreading to correct several mistakes; for example, in the
introduction, “with an estimated OF more”
The results and discussion seem to tell two independent stories, the MR gene expression and
the B. fragilis presence. However, no link is made between the two of them to provide a more
interesting story.
The presence of B. fragilis in the qPCR samples corresponds only to bacteria closely associated
with the tissue and may not represent an increase in its abundance. This undermines the
usefulness of this as a predictor of cancer progression. Would be interesting to further confirm
the increase in the total microbiota, fecal samples, for example.
The authors claim the presence of B. fragilis could be used to prevent cancer development.
However, in the present state, the manuscript doesn´t provide a functional link between MR
gene expression and the presence of the bacteria.
Title: Association between colorectal cancer, the frequency of Bacteroides fragilis, and the
levels of mismatch repair genes expression in the biopsy samples of Iranian patients
Version: 2 Date: 26 Oct 2023
Reviewer:  Oscar Medina-Contreras
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript by Nazarinejad et al. aims to identify the expression levels of mismatch repair
genes and associate them with the relative frequency of Bacteroides fragilis in colorectal cancer.
The authors identified an increase in the levels of msh2, msh6, mlh1, and this expression was
associated with an increase in B. fragilis, suggesting a possible relationship between microbiota
and mismatch repair in colorectal cancer.
The author performed a detailed spatial characterization of the MR gene expression, and
identified interesting regional differences.
Based on all of these findings, it is pertinent to investigate the frequency of this bacterium in
CRC samples. This will enable us to predict cancer progression more quickly and prevent its
development. Furthermore, because MMR genes play an important role in cancer development
and progression, further studies may be able to establish their importance as factors in the proper
diagnosis of cancer or its advanced stage.
The manuscript needs deep proofreading to correct several mistakes; for example, in the
introduction, “with an estimated OF more”
The results and discussion seem to tell two independent stories, the MR gene expression and
the B. fragilis presence. However, no link is made between the two of them to provide a more
interesting story.
The presence of B. fragilis in the qPCR samples corresponds only to bacteria closely associated
with the tissue and may not represent an increase in its abundance. This undermines the
usefulness of this as a predictor of cancer progression. Would be interesting to further confirm
the increase in the total microbiota, fecal samples, for example.
The authors claim the presence of B. fragilis could be used to prevent cancer development.
However, in the present state, the manuscript doesn´t provide a functional link between MR
gene expression and the presence of the bacteria.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Association between colorectal cancer, the frequency of Bacteroides fragilis, and the
levels of mismatch repair genes expression in the biopsy samples of Iranian patients
Version: 2 Date: 26 Oct 2023
Reviewer:  Oscar Medina-Contreras
Reviewer's report:
The manuscript by Nazarinejad et al. aims to identify the expression levels of mismatch repair
genes and associate them with the relative frequency of Bacteroides fragilis in colorectal cancer.
The authors identified an increase in the levels of msh2, msh6, mlh1, and this expression was
associated with an increase in B. fragilis, suggesting a possible relationship between microbiota
and mismatch repair in colorectal cancer.
The author performed a detailed spatial characterization of the MR gene expression, and
identified interesting regional differences.
Based on all of these findings, it is pertinent to investigate the frequency of this bacterium in
CRC samples. This will enable us to predict cancer progression more quickly and prevent its
development. Furthermore, because MMR genes play an important role in cancer development
and progression, further studies may be able to establish their importance as factors in the proper
diagnosis of cancer or its advanced stage.
The manuscript needs deep proofreading to correct several mistakes; for example, in the
introduction, “with an estimated OF more”
The results and discussion seem to tell two independent stories, the MR gene expression and
the B. fragilis presence. However, no link is made between the two of them to provide a more
interesting story.
The presence of B. fragilis in the qPCR samples corresponds only to bacteria closely associated
with the tissue and may not represent an increase in its abundance. This undermines the
usefulness of this as a predictor of cancer progression. Would be interesting to further confirm
the increase in the total microbiota, fecal samples, for example.
The authors claim the presence of B. fragilis could be used to prevent cancer development.
However, in the present state, the manuscript doesn´t provide a functional link between MR
gene expression and the presence of the bacteria.
assistant