Therapeutic and immunomodulatory role of probiotics in breast cancer: A mechanistic review

Arch Microbiol. 2023 Jul 24;205(8):296. doi: 10.1007/s00203-023-03632-7.

Abstract

Breast cancer has become the most prevalent and noxious type of malignancy around the globe (Giaquinto et al., 2022). Multiple clinical strategies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy have been in practice to manage breast cancer. Besides the protective roles of conventional remedial approaches, and non-reversible and deteriorative impacts like healthy cell damage, organ failure, etc., the world scientific community is in a continuous struggle to find some alternative biocompatible and comparatively safe solutions. Among novel breast cancer management/treatment options, the role of probiotics has become immensely important. The current review encompasses the prevalence statistics of breast cancer across the globe concerning developed and undeveloped counties, intestinal microbiota linkage with breast cancer, and association of breast microbiome with breast carcinoma. Furthermore, this review also narrates the role of probiotics against breast cancer and their mode of action. In Vivo and In Vitro studies under breast cancer research regarding probiotics are mechanistically explained. The current review systematically explains the immunomodulatory role of probiotics to prevent breast cancer. Last, but not the least, current review concludes the use of probiotics in the treatment of breast cancer through various mechanisms and future recommendations for molecular basis studies.

Keywords: Cancer; Immunomodulatory; Microbiome; Probiotics.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Dysbiosis
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Humans
  • Microbiota*
  • Probiotics* / pharmacology
  • Probiotics* / therapeutic use