Postbiotics, Metabolic Signaling, and Cancer

Postbiotics are health-promoting microbial metabolites delivered as a functional food or a food supplement. They either directly influence signaling pathways of the body or indirectly manipulate metabolism and the composition of intestinal microflora. Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and even though the prognosis of patients is improving, it is still poor in the substantial part of the cases. The preventable nature of cancer and the importance of a complex multi-level approach in anticancer therapy motivate the search for novel avenues of establishing the anticancer environment in the human body. This review summarizes the principal findings demonstrating the usefulness of both natural and synthetic sources of postbotics in the prevention and therapy of cancer. Specifically, the effects of crude cell-free supernatants, the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, lactic acid, hydrogen sulfide, and beta-glucans are described. Contradictory roles of postbiotics in healthy and tumor tissues are highlighted. In conclusion, the application of postbiotics is an efficient complementary strategy to combat cancer.

Automated summary

Postbiotics are health-promoting microbial metabolites that can influence health by directly or indirectly impacting signaling pathways in the body and the composition of intestinal microflora. This review focuses on the usefulness of natural and synthetic postbiotics in cancer prevention and therapy, highlighting their contradictory roles in healthy and tumor tissues. In conclusion, the application of postbiotics is an effective complementary strategy in combating cancer.