Gut Bacteria May Hold Key to Shielding Breast Cancer Patients from Chemotherapy Heart Damage
New research suggests a healthier gut microbiome could become a crucial ally in protecting breast cancer patients from chemotherapy-induced heart damage. Specific gut bacteria correlate with cardiac health markers, potentially offering a novel way to lessen chemotherapy’s long-term side effects.
Microbiome’s Role in Protecting Hearts
Scientists found specific gut bacteria correlated with heart health indicators, signaling a heightened risk of heart damage during chemotherapy. This research, spearheaded by Dr. Athos Antoniades of Stremble Ventures LTD, explores the microbiome’s impact on how well patients’ hearts cope during treatment.
“We saw a clear association between some specific genus of gut bacteria and cardiac biomarkers that suggest patients are at greater risk of heart damage during chemotherapy,” Dr. Antoniades added.
“While further research is needed, it does give us the tantalising hope that tailored probiotics could play a role in protecting patients against the harmful effects of cancer treatment in future.”
—Dr. Athos Antoniades, Head of Research and Development at Stremble Ventures
In the United States, cardiovascular disease accounts for roughly 40% of all deaths. This study offers a promising path towards mitigating chemotherapy’s cardiac side effects (CDC 2024).
Study Details
The study included 98 women over 60 with breast cancer from European clinical centers. They underwent echocardiograms and blood tests to assess heart function and biomarker levels before cancer treatment. Genetic sequencing was used to analyze the bacteria in the patients’ guts.
Researchers observed that patients with specific bacteria, namely Bacteroides, exhibited heart health biomarkers. These biomarkers, including LVGLS, NTproBNP, and Troponin I, indicate increased susceptibility to heart damage during treatment. The gut bacteria profiles in these patients mirrored those observed in patients with heart failure.
The research forms part of the CARDIOCARE project, which will expand to a larger study of 600 women to confirm the findings. The research is presented at European Cardio-Oncology 2025, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.
Looking Ahead
The study has found that Bacteroidaceae can be harmful. This family of gut bacteria, although often beneficial, can cause infections and inflammation when imbalanced.
“We are already following up these 98 patients after chemotherapy, and are expanding the research project to all 600 patients already enrolled in the CARDIOCARE clinical trial,” concluded Dr. Antoniades.
As breast cancer treatments improve and survival rates rise, managing long-term side effects, such as cardiotoxicity, becomes increasingly vital. This research offers hope for using tailored probiotics to safeguard women from the cardiovascular impacts of chemotherapy.
