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Exploring the underlying correlation between microbiota, immune system, hormones, and inflammation with breast cancer and the role of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics

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Abstract

According to recent research, bacterial imbalance in the gut microbiota and breast tissue may be linked to breast cancer. It has been discovered that alterations in the makeup and function of different types of bacteria found in the breast and gut may contribute to growth and advancement of breast cancer in several ways. The main role of gut microbiota is to control the metabolism of steroid hormones, such as estrogen, which are important in raising the risk of breast cancer, especially in women going through menopause. On the other hand, because the microbiota can influence mucosal and systemic immune responses, they are linked to the mutual interactions between cancer cells and their local environment in the breast and the gut. In this regard, the current review thoroughly explains the mode of action of probiotics and microbiota to eradicate the malignancy. Furthermore, immunomodulation by microbiota and probiotics is described with pathways of their activity.

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Availability of data and materials

Nearly all of the data collected during this study are incorporated in this article. However, data in raw form are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

For the current study, the authors are extremely obliged to the Department of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan, for the provision of research facilities.

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MS edited the manuscript and did the software work. AS did writeup. SA supervises and analyzes the data. TH did the pictorial work.

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Correspondence to Shaukat Ali.

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Communicated by Yusuf Akhter.

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Summer, M., Sajjad, A., Ali, S. et al. Exploring the underlying correlation between microbiota, immune system, hormones, and inflammation with breast cancer and the role of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics. Arch Microbiol 206, 145 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-024-03868-x

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