Correlation between gut microbiota dysbiosis, metabolic syndrome and breast cancer

Breast cancer is a widespread cancer with a high death rate globally. The incidence of breast cancer is expected to increase, particularly in low and middle-income countries due to environmental factors and lifestyle changes. Several risk factors, such as age, family history, hormonal and reproductive factors, have been identified to influence breast cancer development. Metabolic syndrome, is a metabolic disorder that has also been linked to breast cancer risk. The gut microbiome has been suggested as one of the environmental factors leading to breast cancer. The human microbiome is mainly colonized in the intestine by various bacterial species, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus and protect the host against pathogenic microorganisms and regulate the immune system. This study included 50 female breast cancer patients and 50 healthy controls with matched ages. Stool fresh samples were taken from test and control groups and stored at - 20 °C until further investigations. DNA of the bacteria in stool samples was extracted using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to check for the bacterial 16s rRNA gene. The exclusion criteria included other malignancies, recent intestinal surgery, infectious diarrhea, prolonged use of antibiotics, substance addiction, and pregnancy or lactation. Our findings exhibited that breast cancer patients had a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome (60%) compared to cancer-free controls (40%). Furthermore, breast cancer patients had significantly lower Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus counts than the controls. No significant difference was found in Streptococcus counts between groups. These findings support the relationship between breast cancer and metabolic syndrome and suggest the potential involvement of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in breast cancer pathophysiology. Our study supports the relation between breast cancer and disorder of metabolic syndrome and suggests the potential involvement of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in breast cancer pathophysiology. Further research is necessary to investigate the complex interactions between genes, the environment, and the gut microbiome in breast cancer development. Understanding these interactions could lead to the progress of novel strategies for breast cancer prevention and treatment.