Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42588703›Full record

ReviewCancers2026

Postbiotics Against Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review Bridging Preclinical Evidence with Potential Clinical Application.

Chiara Luongo, Roberta Di Santillo, Alessia Cadavere, Franca Oglio, Laura Pisapia, Alessia Gaeta, Chiara Scocco, Juan Luis López-Cánovas, Marco Michelini, Monia De Aloe and 3 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Chiara LuongoDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Roberta Di SantilloDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Alessia CadavereDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-5738-5997
Franca OglioDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Laura PisapiaInstitute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), 80125 Naples, Italy.
Alessia GaetaInstitute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), 80125 Naples, Italy.
Chiara ScoccoInstitute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), 80125 Naples, Italy.
Juan Luis López-CánovasDepartment of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-9032-6124
Marco MicheliniDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Monia De AloeDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Anna LinturaDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Saranya ChumsriRobert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7117-1446
Roberto Berni CananiDepartment of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5169-9574

Funding

Ministry of Health E63C22002570006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, causing more than 600,000 deaths every year. The human microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic response. Postbiotics-defined as non-viable microbial cells and/or their structural components and metabolites that confer health benefits-are emerging as promising and safer alternatives to live probiotics in oncology. This review provides a comprehensive mechanistic overview of the potential role of postbiotics against cancer, with a specific focus on breast cancer. Preclinical evidence demonstrates that selected postbiotics exert dose- and time-dependent anticancer effects against multiple breast cancer subtypes by modulating key oncogenic pathways (such as PI3K/AKT and NF-κB) and inducing epigenetic regulation through histone deacetylase inhibition. Beyond direct effects on tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis, postbiotics influence the breast cancer microenvironment by reshaping cytokine networks, suppressing pro-metastatic inflammation, and enhancing antitumor immune responses through the activation of NK cells and T cells. We also provide emerging links between microbiome composition, estrobolome activity, and breast cancer subtype-specific biology. Despite these encouraging findings, the clinical translation of postbiotics in oncology remains limited. Currently, only one registered clinical trial investigates postbiotics in the oncology setting (melanoma), and no clinical trials have specifically evaluated postbiotics in breast cancer patients. This highlights a substantial translational gap between preclinical evidence and clinical application. Accordingly, well-designed, tumor-specific clinical trials are urgently needed to validate the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic potential of postbiotics as novel strategies in personalized breast cancer management.

Indexed as

breast tumor microenvironmentfermentationL. paracaseiL. rhamnosusmetastasismicrobiomemicrobiotaprobiotics

Identifiers

PMID42588703
PMCPMC13465943

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.