Impaired microbiota in breast cancer patients: In association with high lipopolysaccharide levels and a low-fibre diet

Background Recent studies have demonstrated that the intestinal microbiota, and in particular the metabolites produced by the microbiota, play a role in the pathogenesis of cancer. We hypothesized that gut microbiota and microbiota metabolites may change negatively in breast cancer patients. The trial included 65 women with breast cancer and 50 women as a control group. A Food Frequency Questionnaire characterised daily macronutrient intake over the past 1 month. A metagenomic analysis was conducted based on all hypervariable regions (V1-V9) of the 16S rRNA gene with the objective of investigating the composition and diversity of the microbiome. Results A microbiome analysis revealed that the composition of the gut microbiome differed between cases and controls. In particular, the diversity of microbes in the gut was reduced in breast cancer patients. The present study has demonstrated that serum lipopolysaccharide levels and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio are elevated in breast cancer patients in comparison to the control group. We found that breast cancer patients who participated in our study had non-ideal dietary patterns. The relationship between diet and gut microbiota exerts a profound influence on the complex interplay between these two factors. This relationship may have an impact on the development of breast cancer and the likelihood of cancer metastasis. Conclusions It can be postulated that interventions that enhance microbial diversity through dietary recommendations may have a beneficial impact on health, particularly in patients with breast cancer.