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

Abstract

Regardless of the global progress in early diagnosis and novel therapeutic regimens, breast carcinoma poses a devastating threat, and the advances are somewhat marred by high mortality rates. Breast cancer risk prediction models based on the known risk factors are extremely useful, but a large number of breast cancers develop in women with no/low known risk. The gut microbiome exerts a profound impact on the host health and physiology and has emerged as a pivotal frontier in breast cancer pathogenesis. Progress in metagenomic analysis has enabled the identification of specific changes in the host microbial signature. In this review, we discuss the microbial and metabolomic changes associated with breast cancer initiation and metastatic progression. We summarize the bidirectional impact of various breast cancer-related therapies on gut microbiota and vice-versa. Finally, we discuss the strategies to modulate the gut microbiota toward a more favorable state that confers anticancer effects.

Butyrate as a promising therapeutic target in cancer: From pathogenesis to clinic (Review)

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated the inhibitory impact of butyrate on the proliferation of diverse in vitro cultured tumor cell lines, including colon, esophageal, lung, liver and breast cancer cells, while concurrently promoting tumor cell senescence and apoptosis (65)(66)(67). This effect exhibits a dose-dependent characteristic, with the extent of cellular suppression manifesting progressively with increasing butyrate concentrations (7).…”

Breaking Barriers: The Promise and Challenges of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

“…Hence, host gut microbiota cross-talks various physiological processes via modulating immune response, epithelial production, and metabolite production to keep hemostasis. Interestingly, in cancer diseases, human gut microbiota work as immunosuppressive and oncogenic actors based on the abundance of microbiota type and other factors [71]. Furthermore, the presence of gut microbiota has been detected within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and is encountered in most cancer treatments.…”

Microbial Therapy and Breast Cancer Management: Exploring Mechanisms, Clinical Efficacy, and Integration Within the One Health Approach

“…Studies have suggested a potential symbiotic relationship between certain bacterial strains and tumor regression observed in animal models. Nevertheless, there is an unequivocal need for additional research to validate and understand these associations further [28].…”