Update on Strategies of Probiotics for the Prevention and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(1):27-38. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1865420. Epub 2020 Dec 24.

Abstract

In recent years, with the further research on probiotics, probiotics may become an indispensable part in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the future. As one of the most common cancer, the incidence of CRC is still rising in developing countries. Nowadays, there are lacking in prevention methods with low side effect. Surgery and chemotherapy, as the main treatment of CRC, bring many complications and affect the quality of life of patients. Probiotics has provided new ideas to solve these problems. Probiotics have anti-inflammatory, immune-enhancing, tumor-suppressing and other beneficial effects. Probiotics may provide some safe and effective prevention strategies for CRC. In addition, probiotics can also reduce the complications of surgery and chemotherapy, and improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Target administration with probiotics or probiotics cooperated with TRAIL to treat CRC. This article aims to review the mechanisms of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of CRC, as well as specific ways to use probiotics, in order to provide more new strategies for the prevention and treatment of CRC in the future, and reduce the incidence of and improve the quality of life of patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Probiotics* / therapeutic use
  • Quality of Life