Table 1.
Probiotic Strains in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
| Author | Probiotic bacteria | Subjects | Effects/mechanisms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal (in vitro) studies | ||||
| Heydari et al. [55] | Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum (mixed) | 38 BALB/c mice | Tumor suppressor miRNAs increased, expression of oncogenes decreased after 5 months of administration | |
| Baldwin et al. [56] | L. acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei (mixed) | Colorectal cancer cells (LS513) | Apoptotic efficacy of the 5-FU increased by 40% in dose-dependent manner | |
| Escamilla et al. [58] | Supernatants from L. casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG | Colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) | Reduced cancer cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis | |
| Soltan Dallal et al. [59] | ||||
| An and Ha [60] | Supernatants from Lactobacillus plantarum | Colorectal cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT-116) | Enhanced chemosensitivity when given simultaneously with 5-FU/by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling of chemoresistant CRC cells | |
| Saber et al. [61] | Secretion metabolites of Pichia kudriavzevii: AS-12 | Colorectal cancer cells (HT-29 and CaCo-2) | Cytotoxic effect comparable to that of 5-FU | |
| Mi et al. [62] | Bifidobacterium infantis | 30 Rats | Prevents 5-FU induced damages (decreases diarrhea, IL-6, Th17, and Th1 associated pro-inflammatory cytokines) | |
| Human studies | ||||
| Osterlund et al. [63] | L. rhamnosus GG | 150 CRC patients undergoing 5-FU based chemotherapy | Reduce the frequency of severe diarrhea and abdominal discomfort | |
| Golkhalkhali et al. [64] | Lactobacillus spp. (L. acidophilus, L. casei) | 140 CRC patients undergoing XELOX chemotherapy | Reduce chemotherapy-associated inflammatory reactions and improve patients’ quality of life | |
| Bifidobacterium spp. (B. bifidum, B. longum, B. infantis) with omega-3 fatty acids | ||||
| Mego et al. [65] | 1×109 CFU of formula (including B. bifidum, B. longum, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, L. plantarum, B. infantis) | 46 Patients undergoing irinotecan-based chemotherapy | Reduces grade 3–4 diarrhea after chemotherapy | |
| Aisu et al. [66] | Formula of; | 156 Patients undergoing CRC surgery | Taking probiotics 3–15 days before surgery reduce postoperative site infection | |
| 2 mg Enterococcus faecalis | ||||
| 10 mg Clostridium butyricum | ||||
| 10 mg Bacillus mesentericus | ||||
| Yang et al. [67] | Formula of; | 60 Patients undergoing CRC surgery | Perioperative (5 days before, 7 days after surgery) probiotic administration induced faster recovery of bowel function | |
| B. longum (1×107 CFU/g) | ||||
| L. acidophilus (1×107 CFU/g) | ||||
| E. faecalis (1×107 CFU/g) | ||||
CFU, cell-free supernatants; CRC, colorectal cancer; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; XELOX, capecitabine plus oxaliplatin; miRNA, micro RNA; IL, interleukin; Th17, T-helper 17.