title: Potential role of probiotics on colorectal cancer prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer represents the most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Owing to differences in dietary habits and lifestyle, this neoplasm is more common in industrialized countries than in developing ones. Evidence from a wide range of sources supports the assumption that the link between diet and colorectal cancer may be due to an imbalance of the intestinal microflora.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probiotic bacteria are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a healthy benefit on the host, and they have been investigated for their protective anti-tumor effects. In vivo and molecular studies have displayed encouraging findings that support a role of probiotics in colorectal cancer prevention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several mechanisms could explain the preventive action of probiotics against colorectal cancer onset. They include: alteration of the intestinal microflora; inactivation of cancerogenic compounds; competition with putrefactive and pathogenic microbiota; improvement of the host's immune response; anti-proliferative effects via regulation of apoptosis and cell differentiation; fermentation of undigested food; inhibition of tyrosine kinase signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: International PhD programme in Neuropharmacology, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uccello
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malaguarnera
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Velia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'agata
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malaguarnera
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertino
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vacante
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biondi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases