The Anticancer Properties of Probiotic Species

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (BRCGL), Clinical Sciences Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Applied Virology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Applied Microbiology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The maintenance of homeostasis can be influenced by the gut microbiota. An imbalance in the gut microbiota, known as gut microbiota dysbiosis, can result in the deterioration of the mucosal layer and the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. Consequently, this can lead to the infiltration of bacteria into the lamina propria. The disruption in the gut microbiota balance can also trigger innate immune responses, causing inflammation. Consequently, this inflammation has the potential to initiate various types of cancers. Numerous studies have indicated that probiotics play a direct or indirect role in regulating immune responses by modulating the gut microbiota. Hence, they can be employed as a preventive measure against cancer. This review aims to explore the potential of probiotics in countering cancer metastasis and inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells in different types of cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and cervical cancer. 

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