Cancers, Vol. 11, Pages 38: Gut Microbiota and Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Therapy

Cancers, Vol. 11, Pages 38: Gut Microbiota and Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Therapy Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers11010038 Authors: Silvia Vivarelli Rossella Salemi Saverio Candido Luca Falzone Maria Santagati Stefania Stefani Francesco Torino Giuseppe Luigi Banna Giuseppe Tonini Massimo Libra Cancer is a multifactorial pathology and it represents the second leading cause of death worldwide. In the recent years, numerous studies highlighted the dual role of the gut microbiota in preserving host’s health. Gut resident bacteria are able to produce a number of metabolites and bioproducts necessary to protect host’s and gut’s homeostasis. Conversely, several microbiota subpopulations may expand during pathological dysbiosis and therefore produce high levels of toxins capable, in turn, to trigger both inflammation and tumorigenesis. Importantly, gut microbiota can interact with the host either modulating directly the gut epithelium or the immune system. Numerous gut populating bacteria, called probiotics, have been identified as protective against the genesis of tumors. Given their capability of preserving gut homeostasis, probiotics are currently tested to help to fight dysbiosis in cancer patients subjected to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Most recently, three independent studies show that specific gut resident species may potentiate the positive outcome of anti-cancer immunotherapy. The highly significant studie...
Source: Cancers - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research