The Mechanisms of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics in Oral Cancer Management

Abstract

Oral carcinogenesis is preceded by oral diseases associated with inflammation such as periodontitis and oral candidiasis, which are contributed by chronic alcoholism, smoking, poor oral hygiene, and microbial infections. Dysbiosis is an imbalance of microbial composition due to oral infection, which has been reported to contribute to oral carcinogenesis. Therefore, in this review, we summarised the role of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics in promoting a balanced oral microbiome, which may prevent oral carcinogenesis due to oral infections. Probiotics have been shown to produce biofilm, which possesses antibacterial activity against oral pathogens. Meanwhile, prebiotics can support growth and increase the benefit of probiotics. In addition, postbiotics possess antibacterial, anticariogenic, and anticancer properties that potentially aid in oral cancer prevention and treatment. The use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics for oral cancer management is still limited despite their vast potential, thus, discovering their prospects could herald a novel approach to disease prevention and treatment while participating in combating antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords: Oral cancer management; Postbiotic; Prebiotic; Probiotic; Synbiotic.

Fig. 1

Definition of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics

Fig. 2

Mechanism of action for probiotics to perform immunomodulation against oral cancer

Fig. 3

A schematic representation of the mechanism underlying cancer metastasis and the antimetastatic potential of the oral microbiome. (i) Infiltration of cancer cells through the basement membrane. (ii) Intravasation into the surrounding vasculature or lymphatic system. (iii) Extravasation to secondary tissue. (iv) Colonisation as secondary tumours, an example is oral cancer

Fig. 4

Strategies for bacteria to manage cancer