A new study from the University of Virginia Cancer Center shows that an unhealthy and inflamed intestine can make breast cancer more aggressive and spread to other parts of the body more quickly. Dr. Melanie Ludkowski from the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology at the University of Virginia found that disrupting the mouse microbiota can make hormone receptor-positive breast cancer more aggressive. Changing the microbial phase, that is, the microbial phase living in the intestine, has a great impact on the human body and promotes the spread of cancer.
She said: “Long-term administration of antibiotics to mice can cause an imbalance of the flora, which leads to inflammation of the entire body and breast tissue. In this inflamed environment, tumor cells are more likely to invade the tissues. It spreads to the blood and lungs. The part is the main site of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer metastasis."
hormone receptor positive breast cancer
Most breast cancers-65% or more-hormone receptor positive.. This means that their growth is promoted by hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Fortunately, these types of cancer respond well to hormone therapy. Predicting whether this type of cancer will spread from the breast to other parts of the body (this process is called metastasis) is a major part of the field and is mainly caused by clinical features at the time of diagnosis. Is a challenge. Utkowski explained that early metastasis is affected by many factors. She said: "One of them is the high level of immune cells in the tissues, called macrophages. Studies have shown that the increase in tissue and tumor structural protein collagen also leads to an increase in breast cancer metastasis. There is an unhealthy flora before breast cancer. , Both conditions are increasing, and this effect is powerful and long-lasting. Utkowski said: "Destruction of the microbiota can lead to long-term inflammation of the tissue and tumor environment. "These findings indicate that unhealthy and unhealthy microbiota-related tissue changes may be early predictors of invasive or metastatic breast cancer. Ultimately, based on these findings, unhealthy microbial flora speculates that the incidence of invasive and metastatic diseases has increased. "
Maintain a healthy microbial community
Utkowski uses powerful antibiotics which destroy the natural intestinal bacteria of mice, but emphasizes that antibiotics are not dangerous. People with breast cancer or people who need antibiotics for infectious diseases should not avoid antibiotics. After all, mice are not humans, and further research is needed to determine whether there is a correlation between long-term antibiotic use and cancer outcomes. In this study, antibiotics are only a way to achieve the goal, a simple way to cause long-term imbalances in the microbiota and long-term unhealthy flora that individuals may experience. Yes. This effect is far more serious than the normal use of antibiotics or multiple antibiotics.
Thanks to Utkowski’s work, doctors may eventually be able to manipulate the flora to benefit breast cancer patients. But Rutkowski said that the important information now is the importance of a healthy microbiome. There is increasing evidence that a healthy microbiome is essential to many aspects of physical health.
Utkowski is a cancer researcher, not a doctor. She pointed out that some practices to promote healthy flora have been generally accepted. She said: "Healthy diet, high fiber, exercise, sleep-all of these contribute to health. In theory, all of these will lead to healthy flora. This is related to the breast. The long-term beneficial results of cancer are closely related. "Related research was published in Cancer Research.