Exploring the Anticancer Potential of the Multistrain Probiotic Formulation OxxySlab in Bladder Cancer Cell Lines

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Microbiology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Bladder cancer (BC), especially muscle-invasive BC (MIBC), presents significant clinical challenges with high recurrence rates and limited treatment options.
• Probiotics are being investigated for selective anticancer effects, potentially preserving healthy tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antitumor potential of the multistrain probiotic formulation, OxxySlab, against bladder cancer cells.
• To investigate the mechanisms underlying OxxySlab's effects on cancer cells and its selectivity towards normal urothelial cells.

Main Methods:

• Testing OxxySlab lysate on T24 and 5637 bladder cancer cell lines and SV-HUC1 normal urothelial cells.
• Assessing inhibition of proliferation, clonogenicity, and migration; evaluating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), senescence, and redox homeostasis.
• Investigating the role of oxidative stress using co-treatment with vitamin C.

Main Results:

• OxxySlab dose-dependently inhibited proliferation, clonogenicity, and migration in BC cells while sparing normal urothelial cells.
• The formulation suppressed EMT, induced senescence, and disrupted redox homeostasis in malignant cells, linked to oxidative stress.
• Vitamin C co-treatment reduced ROS accumulation and senescence, confirming oxidative stress as a key mediator.

Conclusions:

• OxxySlab demonstrates selective antitumor effects against bladder cancer cells.
• The probiotic reduces tumor aggressiveness via redox-mediated senescence and EMT inhibition.
• OxxySlab is a potential adjunctive therapy for bladder cancer, preserving normal urothelial cell function.