Probiotics: A New Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Cervical cancer is closely linked to high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infections which could crosstalk with the diversity of microorganisms within the cervicovaginal microbiota (CVM). Conventional treatments can disrupt the host microbial communities, which in turn affect the efficacy and side effects of these interventions, potentially jeopardizing the lives and health of patients. Therefore, there is a need to develop new approaches for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer, and probiotics have shown significant potential as effective agents against cervical cancer. Studies have demonstrated that probiotics induce anticancer action by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, inhibiting metastasis, reducing inflammation, enhancing immune functions, and modifying the effect of chemo/radiation therapy. Recent reports showed that probiotics had the ability to restore the CVM, clear HPV infections in cervical epithelial cells, and modulate immune responses. Despite these promising findings, the efficacy and safety of probiotic formulations require further validation through comprehensive research. This review focused on elucidating the mechanism behind the anticancer action and the importance of addressing the challenges associated with the clinical application of probiotics to realize their full potential as a novel and complementary approach in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

Keywords: Anticancer therapy; Cervical cancer; Cervicovaginal microbiota; Gut microbiota; Probiotics.