Published in

Open Exploration, Exploration of Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy, 2021

DOI: 10.37349/etat.2021.00051

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Does the gut microbiome environment influence response to systemic breast cancer treatment?

Journal article published in 2021 by Eilidh Bruce ORCID, Stanislau Makaranka, Gordon Urquhart, Beatrix Elsberger ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

The gut microbiome is a novel player in the pathogenesis and treatment of breast cancer. The term “microbiome” is used to describe the diverse community of micro-organisms existing within the gastrointestinal tract. The gut microbiome plays an important role in oestrogen metabolism through its ability to deconjugate oestrogens within the gut resulting in their reabsorption. Therefore, it is not unsurprising that “dysbiosis”, the disruption of normal gut microbiota composition, is now thought to play a role in the development of the disease, as women with breast cancer have been shown to have altered gut microbiota and this has been correlated with tumour characteristics. There is emerging evidence to suggest that the gut microbiota may also impact on breast cancer treatment, by mediating both drug efficacy and toxicity. The present review will discuss the influence of the gut microbiota on systemic treatments for breast cancer, including chemotherapy, anti-HER2 therapy, endocrine therapy and immunotherapy as well as other targeted treatments.