Breast cancer but not the menopausal status is associated with small changes of the gut microbiota Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Traditionally linked to genetic predispositions and environmental exposures, emerging evidence highlights the microbiome as a critical and underappreciated factor influencing breast cancer progression, immune response, and treatment outcomes.
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Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What Was Studied?
This study investigated the relationship between gut microbiota composition and breast cancer (BC), focusing on the potential impact of menopausal status on microbiota variations. The researchers used shotgun metagenomics to compare the gut microbiota of 88 newly diagnosed BC patients (47 premenopausal and 41 postmenopausal) with 86 cancer-free controls, stratified by menopausal status.
Who Was Studied?
The participants included Polish women divided into two groups: BC patients and controls. The BC group was further divided into premenopausal and postmenopausal subgroups. Fecal samples were collected before systemic cancer treatment, and patients with prior antibiotic use, inflammatory bowel disease, or a history of cancer (for controls) were excluded.
Most Important Findings
The study showed that menopausal status had no significant impact on the overall gut microbiota composition or diversity. However, breast cancer (BC) patients exhibited gut dysbiosis compared to controls. Premenopausal BC patients demonstrated lower abundances of taxa such as Bifidobacterium and Collinsella massiliensis but higher abundances of the genus Gemmiger. In postmenopausal BC patients, taxa such as Blautia obeum, Dorea formicigenerans, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron were reduced, while Faecalibacterium prausnitzii showed an overrepresentation, potentially indicating a protective or prognostic role. Functional alterations were minimal, with the NAD salvage pathway downregulated in premenopausal BC patients, possibly affecting DNA repair. Enterotype analysis revealed that Bacteroides-dominated enterotypes were more common in controls, while Prevotella and Alistipes were enriched in BC patients. Additionally, bacterial diversity was notably lower in postmenopausal BC patients compared to controls, emphasizing the role of gut dysbiosis in BC pathology rather than menopausal status.
| Group | Microbial Changes | Functional Changes |
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| Premenopausal BC Patients | Lower abundances: Bifidobacterium, Collinsella massiliensis. Higher abundances: Gemmiger. | Downregulation of NAD salvage pathway, possibly affecting DNA repair. |
| Postmenopausal BC Patients | Reduced levels: Blautia obeum, Dorea formicigenerans, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Overrepresentation: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. | Minimal functional alterations. |
| Controls vs. BC Patients | Bacteroides enterotypes prevalent in controls; Prevotella and Alistipes enriched in BC patients. | N/A |
| Postmenopausal BC Patients (Alpha-Diversity) | Lower bacterial diversity compared to controls. | N/A |
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Greatest Implications
The study underscores the importance of gut microbiota in BC development, suggesting that dysbiosis may not be directly related to menopausal status but rather to BC pathology itself. These findings have potential diagnostic implications, as machine learning models using gut microbiota profiles demonstrated an ability to distinguish BC patients from controls with high accuracy (AUC > 0.8). The study highlights the need for further research to explore the mechanisms linking microbiota alterations and BC progression, particularly focusing on key taxa like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium, as well as geographic and lifestyle factors influencing microbiota composition.