Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Salidroside's Molecular Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Treatment
11:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring Salidroside's Molecular Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Treatment

Published on: June 9, 2023

1.4K

Anticancer Potential of Prebiotics: Targeting Estrogen Receptors and PI3K/AKT/mTOR in Breast Cancer

Hussein Sabit1, Sama Abouelnour1, Bassel M Hassen2

  • 1Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza P.O. Box 77, Egypt.

Biomedicines
|April 29, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Prebiotics modulate the gut microbiota-estrogen axis, influencing breast cancer progression and treatment. These dietary fibers show potential in enhancing cancer therapy and reducing side effects by impacting immune and metabolic pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Microbiology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Estrogen receptors (ERs) are crucial in breast cancer (BC), with ERα promoting and ERβ suppressing tumors.
  • ER signaling interacts with pathways like PI3K/AKT/mTOR, affecting tumor growth and endocrine resistance.
  • Gut microbiota modulation by prebiotics may influence estrogen metabolism, immunity, and therapeutic outcomes in BC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of prebiotics on ER modulation, gut microbiota, immune function, and metabolism in breast cancer.
  • To explore prebiotics as adjunctive therapies for enhancing BC treatment efficacy and reducing side effects.
  • To analyze preclinical and clinical studies on prebiotics in BC, focusing on gut microbiota, immune regulation, and metabolic reprogramming.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive analysis of recent preclinical and clinical studies.
  • Evaluation of prebiotic effects on gut microbiota composition and function.
  • Assessment of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) impact on epigenetic regulation and endocrine resistance.

Main Results:

  • Prebiotics modulate the gut microbiota-estrogen axis, reduce inflammation, and influence immune responses.
  • SCFAs from prebiotic fermentation selectively downregulate ER, reprogram metabolism, and suppress tumor growth.
  • Synbiotic interventions alleviate chemotherapy side effects, improving patient quality of life.

Conclusions:

  • Prebiotics offer a promising strategy for breast cancer prevention and therapy by modulating estrogen metabolism, immunity, and metabolic pathways.
  • Further clinical trials are necessary to confirm the efficacy of prebiotics as adjunctive treatments in breast cancer management.
Keywords:
breast cancerestrogen receptorsgut microbiotaprebioticsshort-chain fatty acids

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Dormancy Model of Estrogen-sensitive Breast Cancer in the Bone Marrow: A Tool for Molecular Mechanism Studies and Hypothesis Generation08:48

An In Vitro Dormancy Model of Estrogen-sensitive Breast Cancer in the Bone Marrow: A Tool for Molecular Mechanism Studies and Hypothesis Generation

Published on: June 30, 2015

8.2K
Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma13:18

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma

Published on: March 3, 2023

1.1K

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
3.3K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.7K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.3K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.4K
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
6.0K
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
4.6K