Cheap medications already utilized within the UK's National Health Service (NHS) could potentially play a role in combating the spread of breast cancer, according to a new study. Research has consistently indicated a connection between imbalances in the gut microbiome and poorer breast cancer outcomes.
Scientists at the University of Virginia propose a mechanism for this link: an overgrowth of specific bacteria in the gut can lead to an accumulation of bile acids. These acids, produced by the liver for digestion and metabolism, can then trigger inflammation within the breast tissue, potentially promoting the proliferation of cancer cells.
The study suggests that drugs capable of reducing bile acid levels, which are already available and in use, might therefore be employed to slow the progression of the disease. Breast cancer is a significant health concern in the UK, affecting almost 60,000 women annually, and becomes considerably more challenging to treat once it has metastasized, often to the lymph nodes and lungs.
To investigate the gut's influence on breast cancer metastasis, researchers conducted experiments on mice and subsequently analyzed bile acid levels in human breast cancer patients. Preliminary findings indicated that patients with advanced disease who received bile-suppressing medication showed a tendency toward longer survival periods.
"Now we want to know if these existing drugs can prevent the cancer from spreading in the first place," stated co-author Dr. Melanie Rutkowski, highlighting the next phase of their investigation.