D'Amore Teresa, Zolfanelli Cinzia, Lauciello Vincenzo, Di Ciancia Alessio, Vagliasindi Alessio, Smaoui Slim, Varzakas Theodoros
Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS CROB, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata, 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy.
Unit of Abdominal Oncological Surgery, IRCCS CROB, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata, 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy.
Microorganisms. 2025 Jun 9;13(6):1335. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13061335.
Postbiotics, defined as a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components, including metabolic byproducts, have gained recognition as promising modulators of gut health and disease, offering advantages over probiotics in terms of safety, stability, and formulation. This systematic review investigates the therapeutic potential of postbiotics derived from functional foods in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite encouraging preclinical findings, translation into clinical practice remains limited due to a paucity of robust human trials, revealing a significant gap and the need for further translational research. Key bioactive categories of postbiotics are described, alongside their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and chemopreventive mechanisms. Through comprehensive literature mapping, this review uniquely categorizes research according to the experimental models employed, i.e., in vitro, in silico, in vivo, and ex vivo, and advanced models such as organoids and organ-on-chip platforms. The latter offers greater physiological relevance by closely mimicking human tissue architecture and microenvironment. These models help demonstrate how postbiotics may influence tumorigenesis through mechanisms involving inflammation, apoptosis, epigenetic regulation, and the maintenance of gut barrier integrity. Finally, the review summarizes recent innovations in their delivery strategies and calls for comprehensive mechanistic studies and high-quality clinical trials to validate postbiotics as safe and effective adjuncts in CRC prevention, therapy, and management.
后生元被定义为无生命微生物和/或其成分(包括代谢副产物)的制剂,已被公认为是肠道健康和疾病的有前景的调节剂,在安全性、稳定性和制剂方面比益生菌具有优势。本系统综述研究了源自功能性食品的后生元在结直肠癌(CRC)背景下的治疗潜力,结直肠癌是全球癌症相关死亡的主要原因。尽管临床前研究结果令人鼓舞,但由于缺乏有力的人体试验,转化为临床实践仍然有限,这揭示了一个重大差距以及进一步转化研究的必要性。文中描述了后生元的关键生物活性类别及其抗炎、免疫调节和化学预防机制。通过全面的文献梳理,本综述根据所采用的实验模型,即体外、计算机模拟、体内和离体模型,以及类器官和芯片器官平台等先进模型,对研究进行了独特的分类。后者通过紧密模拟人体组织结构和微环境,提供了更高的生理相关性。这些模型有助于证明后生元如何通过涉及炎症、细胞凋亡、表观遗传调控和维持肠道屏障完整性的机制影响肿瘤发生。最后,综述总结了后生元递送策略的最新创新,并呼吁进行全面的机制研究和高质量的临床试验,以验证后生元作为结直肠癌预防、治疗和管理中安全有效的辅助手段。
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022-1-17
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022-9-20
Health Soc Care Deliv Res. 2025-5-21
JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2017-8
JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2016-4
Int J Mol Sci. 2025-8-14
Int J Mol Sci. 2025-3-27
J Transl Med. 2025-4-15
Curr Obes Rep. 2025-4-10
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2025-5-21
Food Funct. 2025-3-3