Breast cancer: Should gastrointestinal bacteria be on our radar screen?

Anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics alter the risk of breast cancer in women, but roles for bacteria and inflammation in breast malignancies are poorly understood. A recent study in mice suggests that intestinal bacteria can trigger mammary carcinoma. The mechanisms involved in this effect suggest that dysregulated host immune responses to enteric bacteria can influence the development of extraintestinal cancers, highlighting the opportunities for prevention and treatment aimed at promoting intestinal homeostasis.