Novel microbiome signatures for non‐invasive diagnosis of adenoma recurrence after colonoscopic polypectomy

Summary Background We previously reported a panel of novel faecal microbiome gene markers for diagnosis of colorectal adenoma and cancer. Aim To evaluate whether these markers are useful in detecting adenoma recurrence after polypectomy. Methods Subjects were enrolled in a polyp surveillance study from 2009 to 2019. Stool samples were collected before bowel preparation of index colonoscopy (baseline) and surveillance colonoscopy (follow‐up). Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Lachnoclostridium marker (m3), Clostridium hathewayi (Ch) and Bacteroides clarus were quantified in baseline and follow‐up samples by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to correlate with adenoma recurrence. Recurrence was defined as new adenomas detected >6 months after polypectomy. Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) was performed for comparison. Results A total of 161 baseline and 104 follow‐up samples were analysed. Among patients with adenoma recurrence, Fn and m3 increased (both P