Probiotic Modulation in Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with its incidence influenced by genetics, diet and the composition of the gut microbiota. Probiotic modulation aims to restore microbial balance and reinforce intestinal barrier integrity, reducing pro-inflammatory signals and the formation of carcinogenic metabolites. Key mechanisms include competitive exclusion of pathogens, enhancement of mucosal immunity, production of short-chain fatty acids that promote epithelial health, and direct induction of tumour cell apoptosis or cell-cycle arrest. Emerging evidence also reveals that specific probiotic strains can act as adjuvants to chemotherapy by sensitising malignant cells to cytotoxic drugs, while limiting off-target toxicity. Translational studies are increasingly focusing on strain specificity, optimal dosing regimens and host factors that shape individual responses. As a result, probiotic interventions hold promise both for primary prevention in high-risk individuals and as supportive therapy to enhance treatment effectiveness and reduce complications.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have engineered an oral commensal bacterium to deliver an anticancer prodrug selectively to colorectal tumour tissue. By exploiting natural bacterial adhesion mechanisms and tumour-associated biosignals, this approach achieved targeted release of an active chemotherapeutic compound within the tumour microenvironment, resulting in pronounced tumour growth inhibition in murine xenograft models. Another report isolated ferrichrome, a metabolite produced by a probiotic Lactobacillus strain, and demonstrated its potent tumour-suppressive effect on colon cancer cells via activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway, leading to apoptosis with minimal impact on healthy intestinal cells.

Probiotic Modulation in Colorectal Cancer Prevention publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in probiotic modulation in colorectal cancer prevention across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Gut microbiota: The community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dysbiosis: An imbalance in the composition or function of the gut microbiota.

Probiotic: Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.

Postbiotic: Non-viable microbial products or metabolic by-products that elicit beneficial biological responses.

Prodrug: An inactive precursor compound that is metabolised into an active therapeutic agent in the body.

Xenograft: A model in which human tumour cells are implanted into an animal host to study cancer biology and treatments.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death involving characteristic morphological and biochemical changes.

References

1. Gut microbiota modulation: a novel strategy for prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. Oncogene (2020).
2. Prodrug-conjugated tumor-seeking commensals for targeted cancer therapy. Nature Communications (2024).
3. Probiotic-derived ferrichrome inhibits colon cancer progression via JNK-mediated apoptosis. Nature Communications (2016).
4. Phytogalactolipids activate humoral immunity against colorectal cancer. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research (2023).
5. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG cell-free supernatant as a novel anti-cancer adjuvant. Journal of Translational Medicine (2023).