According to a cross-sectional study, multiple alterations in the gut microbial composition and diversity was associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and breast cancer status.

Results from this study were first presented at the 2024 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Annual Congress by Katrina Carr, BSN, RN, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 26, 2024.

There were 27 patients with early-stage breast cancer, previously included in a larger study, enrolled in this study. All patients provided a stool sample between 1 and 5 years after surgery, and self-reported symptoms using the PROMIS-29 v2.0 and PROMIS-GI questionnaires. Models were controlled for covariates such as age, Body Mass Index, and breast cancer clinical subtype using questionnaire answers. The purpose of this study was to determine any association of gut microbiota variation and gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with breast cancer.

Among the patients, there were moderate symptoms burdens of constipation (mean, 1.704) and diarrhea (mean, 1.769) reported. Diarrhea and breast cancer subtype (ER status) were identified as predictive variables of microbiota composition. There was a negative association found between constipation and the presence of Monoglobus and Lachnospira (P < .01). Of this association, Carr and coauthors noted these taxa “are associated with metabolism of dietary plant polysaccharides including initiating degradation of resistant polysaccharides such as pectin, suggesting important dietary-microbiota links in GI symptom management.”

Carr et al, concluded, “This study will inform the direction of future intervention studies to determine best practices for symptom management in women treated for breast cancer.” They added that this study “also demonstrated the feasibility of stool self-collection for microbiome studies.”

Source:

Carr K, Methé B, Patel A, et al. Analysis of the association of gut microbiota variation and gastrointestinal symptoms in women treated for breast cancer. Presented at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress. April 24-28, 2024; Washington, DC.