The objective of this study is to identify and characterize microplastics present in peritumoral and intratumoral tissues of colorectal cancer patients, and to investigate their associations with gut microbiome composition and metabolic profiles. By integrating microplastic analysis with metagenomic and metabolomic data, we aim to explore the potential impact of environmental microplastic exposure on tumor microenvironment alterations, microbial dysbiosis, and metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients (≥18 years old) with histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma.
• Undergoing elective radical colorectal cancer resection at the study hospital.
• No prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy before surgery.
• Availability of both tumor tissue and adjacent normal (peritumoral) tissue samples during surgery.
• Willingness to provide stool and/or blood samples for metagenomic and metabolomic analysis.
• Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a history of other malignancies within the past 5 years.
• Emergency surgery due to obstruction, perforation, or bleeding.
• Inadequate sample quality or volume for microplastic, metagenomic, or metabolomic analysis.
• Presence of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).
• Use of antibiotics, probiotics, or prebiotics within 4 weeks prior to sample collection.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.

patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and received rectal cancer surgery

Due to the requirements of the Ethics Committee, it was not permitted to make the acquired data public.