Fig. 3

Relative quantification of the bacteria in CRC and adjacent normal mucous tissues. Scatter plots with bar (left) and relative amount of each bacterium in tumor and matched adjacent normal samples (right) are illustrated. The relative quantity of F. nucleatum (n = 30, p < 0.01**) and B. fragilis (n = 30, p < 0.05*) was significantly higher in CRC tissues than the adjacent normal mucosa that was collected 10–15 cm beyond cancer margins. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the relative quantification of EPEC and S. gallolyticus (n = 30, p > 0.05) between CRC and non-CRC tissues