Study conducted at Western University in Ontario, Canada.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Scientists have made a breakthrough in treating breast cancer as a new study has found that microorganisms induced into body, known as probiotics, can fight abnormal cell growth.
The path-breaking study done by researchers under Dr. Gregor Reid, professor of microbiology, immunology and surgery at Western University in Ontario, Canada, said that the breasts of cancer patients carry bacteria that can aggravate the growth of cancer while healthy breasts have potential bacteria that can prevent cancer.
After a thorough examination of the study, the American Society for Microbiology researchers suggested that use of probiotics will have a far-reaching impact on treating breast cancer.
Researcher Camilla Urbaniak obtained breast tissues from 58 women who were undergoing lumpectomies or mastectomies for either benign (13 women) or cancerous (45 women) tumors as well as from 23 healthy women, who had undergone breast reductions or enhancements.
The study found that women with cancer-infected breast had high levels of Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) and Staphylococcus epidermis. Both these bacteria are known to inflict double-stranded breaks in DNA HeLa cells, which are cultured human cells. The researchers found that the breaks in DNA are prone to errors that could lead to cancer.
On the other hand, the researchers found an increased count of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus (lactic acid bacteria), two health-promoting bacteria in women with healthy breasts. These two bacteria are known for their anti-carcinogenic properties.
“Besides fighting cancer directly, it might be possible to increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria at the expense of harmful ones, through probiotics,” said Reid.
Other than the newly discovered method for treating breast cancer, Reid also said that antibiotics that target bacteria assisting cancer are another proven method for breast cancer management.