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Probiotics in the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer

  • Prevention and Early Detection (N Arber, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Colorectal Cancer Reports

Abstract

We review the most recent data generated by studies in animal models and clinical trials on the role of probiotics in preventing colorectal cancer and the mechanisms proposed. Reduction of colonic carcinogenesis has been attributed to controlling colorectal neoplastic progression via an increased proportion of bacteria with proinflammatory characteristics. Studies in humans have examined the effect of oral administration of yogurt supplemented with probiotics on intestinal microbiota associated with colorectal cancer. A significant decrease in these cells was reported in the probiotic treatment group but not in the milk control group, implying the potential of probiotics for eliminating microbiota associated with colorectal cancer. An intervention study undertaken in the pouches of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis showed decreased cell proliferation and increased detoxification capacity after treatment with probiotics and sulindac/inulin. This mechanism and others were demonstrated experimentally in animals using a rat colon cancer model to examine colorectal tumorigenesis and DNA damage. In the future, with growing understanding of the human microbiome, probiotics may serve as chemoprotective agents for the prevention of colorectal cancer. However, more clinical trials in humans are needed to assess their protective effect.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Phyllis Curchack Kornspan for her editorial services. The study was supported in part by the Stanley Steyer Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Research.

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No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine C, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tiqva, Israel

    Haim Shmuely & Noam Domniz

  2. Stanley Steyer Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Dani Cohen

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  1. Haim Shmuely
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Correspondence to Haim Shmuely.

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Shmuely, H., Domniz, N. & Cohen, D. Probiotics in the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer. Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep 9, 31–36 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-012-0153-2

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