The role of probiotics in inducing apoptosis in oral cancer

Background and Aim : Oral cancer is the sixth type of cancer in the world, despite manyadvances, oral cancer is one of the ten major causes of death due to late diagnosis. Oral cancer isassociated with the composition of oral and intestinal microbiota. In this context, theadministration of probiotics has recently been considered as a good cancer prevention strategy dueto their immunological effects. In this field, little research has been done on the effects of probioticsin the development of oral cancer. Some probiotics have anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis.Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play an important role in the proper functioning of the innateimmune system. Recent studies have shown that PRRs are highly expressed and active in manytypes of cancer. Physiologically, toll-like receptors identify bacteria and other microorganisms inthe oral cavity; However, the role of Toll-like receptors in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)is unclear.Methods : The purpose of the present study is to systematically review past studies in examiningthe positive effects of probiotics on health and their relationship with cancer. Articles related tothe subject in Springer Science Direct and Google Scholar databases were searched in English andclinical trials and systematic review articles that investigated the effects of probiotics in theprevention and treatment of oral cancer were included in the study.Results : Research has shown that in each type of cancer, certain types of TLRs are expressedmore, which can be used as markers, and the expression of TLRs, in turn, increases the expressionof downstream pathways such as NF-KB and BCL۲, which also prevent apoptosis in cells. Theybecome cancerous. By reducing the expression of TLRs, probiotics regulate the downstreampathways, which will cause apoptosis in cancer cells and improve tumor tissue.Conclusion : Some of the probiotics have anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis, which hasmade it possible to consider them as an agent for treatment, which is very safe and does not leaveany side effects in the host. This idea can be used in the future of probiotics along with othermedical treatments to speed up the recovery of the disease.