Review Article: Understanding the Role of the Microbiome in Breast Cancer Progression

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncogenesis Vol. 30; no. 2; p. 1
• Main Authors: Kumari, Seema, Srilatha, Mundla, Nagaraju, Ganji Purnachndra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2025
• Subjects: Animals; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - microbiology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Disease Progression; Dysbiosis - microbiology; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Microbiota
• ISSN: 0893-9675
• DOI: 10.1615/CritRevOncog.2024056468

The breast cancer fatality rate poses a global health concern. Dysbiosis of the gut and breast microbiome plays a crucial role in both the onset and metastasis of breast cancer by influencing immune response and hormone metabolism. Probiotics, antibiotics, and KEY WORDS: breast cancer, immunotherapy, microbiome, exosomes, gut microbiota are used in microbiome-targeted drugs as therapy alternatives. Metabolic alterations accelerate the development of cancer. For instance, 27-hydroxycholesterol promotes tamoxifen resistance and estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Malignant breast tissues differ from healthy breast tissues by their unique microbial profiles. The microbiome influences metabolic pathways such as lipid and glucose metabolism and microbial compounds like β-glucuronidases and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) influence metabolism, drug resistance, and progression of cancer. New approaches to treating breast cancer include immunotherapies, nanoparticle drug delivery systems, and emerging therapeutics based on interactions among the microbiome, the immune system, and exosomes. These approaches may improve immune responses, decrease chemotherapy resistance, and stop the spread of cancer. Here, we discuss dysbiosis in breast cancer and therapeutic approaches.