FIGURE 2.

Plausible therapeutic options for targeting gut and breast microbiomes to impede breast cancer metastasis to bones. Figure summarizes some therapeutic options to abrogate breast cancer growth and metastasis, especially to the bone. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT): Transferring gut microbiota, or a concoction of specific microbial species, from healthy donors and/or therapy‐responders into patients with cancer and/or therapy‐nonresponders, may help in restoring a balanced microbiome, which may potentially impede cancer progression and metastasis. Species‐specific antibiotics: Administration of antibiotics that specifically target pathogenic microbial species in the gut and breast microbiomes could reduce their impact on cancer progression. Dietary inclusion of probiotics and prebiotics: Probiotics can help ensure a healthy microbiome, reducing dysbiosis and potentially abrogating cancer growth and metastasis. Prebiotics promote the growth of beneficial microbes, which may help in preventing cancer metastasis. Dietary inclusion of phytochemicals: Certain plant‐derived compounds can modulate the microbiomes and directly or indirectly inhibit cancer progression and metastasis. Steroid hormone regulation: Regulating metabolism of steroid hormones through microbiome‐targeted therapies could mitigate their role in cancer progression and metastasis to the bone. Gut microbiome‐based remodeling of bone microenvironment: Modulating the gut microbiome to influence the composition of the bone microenvironment may prevent the establishment and growth of metastatic cancer cells in bone tissue. Although plausible, some of these therapeutic options are tested for other cancer types, and thus, warrant detailed investigations in case of breast cancer metastasis to the bone.