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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
Published on: March 17, 2016
Beyond estrobolome 1.0: unraveling endocrine-microbiome axis as a driver and therapeutic target in hormone-driven
Exian Mou1, Rui Guo1, Yong Yi2
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Abstract:
The endocrine-microbiome axis extends the estrobolome concept, recognizing gut microbes as active endocrine partners. Bacteria modulate estrogen recycling via diverse enzymes and produce SERM-like metabolites, while host hormones shape microbial communities. This bidirectional crosstalk influences hormone-driven carcinogenesis through inflammation, genomic instability, and epigenetic changes. Therapeutic opportunities include precision probiotics and selective enzymatic inhibition. Advancing the field requires causal models, multi-omics integration, and sex as a biological variable.
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