Surfacing role of probiotics in cancer prophylaxis and therapy: A systematic review

Abstract

Cancers figure among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cancer and its associated infections are always complicated even when specific cancer regimens are available. It is well proved that Lactobacillus and other probiotic bacteria can modulate-ameliorate specific mechanisms against various infections including cancers. The present systematic review is intended to focus on the 'cellular and molecular mechanisms' of probiotic bacteria in the prevention and treatment of various cancers. The clinical and experimental findings of various studies explain the mechanisms such as apoptosis, antioxidant activity, immune response and epigenetics and illustrate the role of probiotics in cancer management and prophylaxis. In addition, the present review also discusses the safety aspects of probiotics when they are used in therapeutic and nutritional diet management. However, further investigations are required to reveal the effectiveness of probiotics in cancer treatment in clinical settings. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.