Research Type: Breast Cancer
Project Description
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the US. Survival rates have improved dramatically but if cancer spreads (metastasizes), it is much harder to treat. Cells of the immune system should help destroy cancer cells but sometimes they can actually protect cancer cells. Dr Nelson and his team have discovered a “biological switch” that is controlled by bile acids (natural steroid compounds in our gut). Certain gut bacteria can alter bile acids to control this immune switch. This project will test whether a probiotic can reprogram the gut bacteria to transform bile acids and switch immune cells back to attacking the cancer cells.
