Interactions between the tumor microbiota and breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Microbiology
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Breast cancer is a leading global malignancy in women.
• The role of microbiota and their metabolites in breast cancer is increasingly recognized.
• Specific mechanisms linking microbiota to breast cancer remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the influence of gut and intratumoral microbiota on breast cancer.
• To explore the role of microbial metabolites in breast cancer development and metastasis.
• To assess the potential of microbiota as biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic response.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on microbiota and breast cancer.
• Analysis of studies investigating gut and intratumoral microbial communities.
• Examination of research on microbial metabolites in breast cancer.

Main Results:

• Microbiota and their metabolites impact tumor immunity, estrogen metabolism, and treatment efficacy.
• Evidence suggests microorganisms exist within breast cancer tissue, affecting outcomes.
• Gut and intratumoral microbiota play roles in breast cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis.

Conclusions:

• Microbiota represent a significant factor in breast cancer development and progression.
• Microbiota hold potential as biomarkers for predicting prognosis and treatment response.
• Further investigation is crucial to establish causality and develop microbiota-targeted therapies for breast cancer.