The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide and is a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. The tumor microenvironment (TME), composed of tumor cells, immune infiltrates, fibroblasts, and vascular components, is critically involved in tumor initiation, metastatic pro...

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Main Authors: Xiaoying Ren, Lixiang Zheng, Ling Huang, Jiangbo Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1591745/full
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author Xiaoying Ren
Lixiang Zheng
Ling Huang
Jiangbo Zhao
Jiangbo Zhao
author_facet Xiaoying Ren
Lixiang Zheng
Ling Huang
Jiangbo Zhao
Jiangbo Zhao
author_sort Xiaoying Ren
collection DOAJ
description Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide and is a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. The tumor microenvironment (TME), composed of tumor cells, immune infiltrates, fibroblasts, and vascular components, is critically involved in tumor initiation, metastatic progression, and therapeutic response. In recent years, therapies targeting the TME have undergone rapid advancements, with the objective of enhancing antitumor immunity. Concurrently, mounting evidence underscores the pivotal role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in modulating host immunity, influencing metabolic homeostasis, inflammation, and immune equilibrium. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiome influence breast cancer progression and patients’ responses to immunotherapy. Therefore, modulating the gut microbiota is a promising strategy to enhance the clinical outcomes of TME-targeted immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss the influence of gut microbiota and its derived metabolites on breast cancer progression and immunotherapy prognosis and explore potential strategies to optimize immunotherapy through gut microbiota modulation.
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spelling doaj-art-8cd15836b3d34f87afd8d783d8dce1de2025-08-20T02:29:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-05-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15917451591745The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancerXiaoying Ren0Lixiang Zheng1Ling Huang2Jiangbo Zhao3Jiangbo Zhao4College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, ChinaJiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital, Nanchang, ChinaThe Affiliated Children’s Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, ChinaBreast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide and is a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. The tumor microenvironment (TME), composed of tumor cells, immune infiltrates, fibroblasts, and vascular components, is critically involved in tumor initiation, metastatic progression, and therapeutic response. In recent years, therapies targeting the TME have undergone rapid advancements, with the objective of enhancing antitumor immunity. Concurrently, mounting evidence underscores the pivotal role of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in modulating host immunity, influencing metabolic homeostasis, inflammation, and immune equilibrium. The composition and diversity of the gut microbiome influence breast cancer progression and patients’ responses to immunotherapy. Therefore, modulating the gut microbiota is a promising strategy to enhance the clinical outcomes of TME-targeted immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss the influence of gut microbiota and its derived metabolites on breast cancer progression and immunotherapy prognosis and explore potential strategies to optimize immunotherapy through gut microbiota modulation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1591745/fullbreast cancertumor microenvironmentimmunotherapygut microbiotadietary interventionfecal microbiota transplantation
spellingShingle Xiaoying Ren
Lixiang Zheng
Ling Huang
Jiangbo Zhao
Jiangbo Zhao
The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer
Frontiers in Microbiology
breast cancer
tumor microenvironment
immunotherapy
gut microbiota
dietary intervention
fecal microbiota transplantation
title The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer
title_full The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer
title_fullStr The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer
title_short The role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer
title_sort role of the gut microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy of breast cancer
topic breast cancer
tumor microenvironment
immunotherapy
gut microbiota
dietary intervention
fecal microbiota transplantation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1591745/full
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