Can gut bacteria affect breast cancer risk? Doctors explain
Scientists are uncovering links between the microbes in our intestines and breast cancer, from how hormones are recycled to how patients respond to treatment. But, experts caution, a link is not a cause. The human gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, and their work extends far beyond digestion. They break down food, communicate to the immune system, regulate inflammation and even influence…
Recent research is exploring potential connections between gut bacteria and breast cancer risk. Scientists are investigating how these microbes may influence hormone regulation and immune system function, which could impact breast cancer development. However, experts caution that correlation does not imply causation. The human gut harbors trillions of microorganisms that play crucial roles beyond digestion, including hormone processing and immune system regulation.
Studies have identified differences in gut bacteria among breast cancer patients, but researchers have not yet proven that an unhealthy gut microbiome directly causes breast cancer or that altering the microbiome can prevent the disease. Dr Purna Kashyap, director of the Mayo Clinic Microbiome Program, explains that certain gut bacteria can affect estrogen metabolism.
Some bacteria increase estrogen reabsorption, potentially raising estrogen levels and breast cancer risk. The collection of gut bacteria involved in estrogen processing is called the "estrobolome." Diet, antibiotics, alcohol, and body fat may influence the estrobolome. However, the authors presented this as a hypothesis, not a proven cause.
Dr Soha Abdelbaky, consultant in medical oncology, emphasizes that the microbiome also trains the immune system, regulates inflammation, and modulates metabolism. Disruptions to the microbiome could impact breast cancer through various pathways. One intriguing finding concerns breast cancer diagnosed at a younger age. Researchers identified a distinct gut microbiome and lower levels of primary bile acids in patients with early-onset breast cancer.
Bile acids act as metabolic signals, and certain gut bacteria, such as Clostridium scindens, can influence bile acid metabolism. Lower levels of C. scindens were observed in patients with early-onset disease, but this does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. The gut microbiome can influence breast cancer treatment response and side effects, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
While intriguing, the link between gut bacteria and breast cancer risk remains an area of ongoing investigation and does not currently inform clinical recommendations.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
