Exercise and Prebiotic Fiber Provide Gut Microbiota-Driven Benefit in a Survivor to Germ-Free Mouse Translational Model of Breast Cancer

Abstract

The gut microbiota plays a role in shaping overall host health and response to several cancer treatments. Factors, such as diet, exercise, and chemotherapy, can alter the gut microbiota. In the present study, the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) program was investigated as a strategy to favorably modify the gut microbiota of breast cancer survivors who had received chemotherapy. Subsequently, the ability of post-exercise gut microbiota, alone or with prebiotic fiber supplementation, to influence breast cancer outcomes was interrogated using fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in germ-free mice. While cancer survivors experienced little gut microbial change following ACE, in the mice, tumor volume trended consistently lower over time in mice colonized with post-exercise compared to pre-exercise microbiota with significant differences on days 16 and 22. Beta diversity analysis revealed that EO771 breast tumor cell injection and Paclitaxel chemotherapy altered the gut microbial communities in mice. Enrichment of potentially protective microbes was found in post-exercise microbiota groups. Tumors of mice colonized with post-exercise microbiota exhibited more favorable cytokine profiles, including decreased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. Beneficial microbial and molecular outcomes were augmented with prebiotic supplementation. Exercise and prebiotic fiber demonstrated adjuvant action, potentially via an enhanced anti-tumor immune response modulated by advantageous gut microbial shifts.

Prebiotics: Ignored player in the fight against cancer

“…Two groups of pre‐exercise participants and post‐exercise participants were compared. It was observed that the post‐exercise group which was treated with oligofructose showed the lowest tumour volume and the highest amount of rehabilitation 28 . This study can be helpful to obese patients 28 .…”

“…It was observed that the post‐exercise group which was treated with oligofructose showed the lowest tumour volume and the highest amount of rehabilitation. 28 This study can be helpful to obese patients. 28 Spencer et al discovered the importance of combining prebiotics with diet.…”

“… 28 This study can be helpful to obese patients. 28 Spencer et al discovered the importance of combining prebiotics with diet. He concluded that prebiotics would contribute to a positive change in patients with melanoma.…”

Role of Gut Microbe Composition in Psychosocial Symptom Response to Exercise Training in Breast Cancer Survivors (ROME) study: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…57 59 Yet, the literature in cancer populations connecting exercise to changes in the microbiome warrants additional scrutiny. Sampsell et al 133 recently conducted a 12-week exercise intervention in 10 breast cancer survivors with reassessment after a 12-week washout period. No statistically significant pre-post differences in alpha or beta diversity were detected yet a follow-up mouse study yielded a trend toward lower tumour development in mice colonised with post-exercise microbiota versus those colonised with pre-exercise microbiota.…”

The gut microbiota in breast cancer development and treatment: The good, the bad, and the useful!

“…Mice colonized with post-exercise gut microbes exhibit significantly diminished tumor volume with enrichment of favorable cytokine profiles and reduced angiogenesis. Prebiotic fiber supplementation further compound the anti-tumor effects 112 . Although several clinical trials have advocated the beneficial and therapeutic effects of probiotic consumption in cancer patients 113 , merely a handful of clinical trials are focused on the impact of probiotics in breast cancer patients.…”