Epigenetic Modulations by Microbiome in Breast Cancer

Recent studies have identified a critical role of the diverse and dynamic microbiome in modulating various aspects of host physiology and intrinsic processes. However, the altered microbiome has also become a hallmark of cancer, which could influence the tumor microenvironment. Aberrations in epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressors, apoptotic genes, and oncogenes can accentuate breast cancer onset and progression. Interestingly, recent studies have established that the microbiota modulates the epigenetic mechanisms at global and gene-specific levels. While the mechanistic basis is unclear, the cross-talk between the microbiome and epigenetics influences breast cancer trajectory. Here, we review different epigenetic mechanisms of mammalian gene expression and summarize the host-associated microbiota distributed across the human body and their influence on cancer and other disease-related genes. Understanding this complex relationship between epigenetics and the microbiome holds promise for new insights into effective therapeutic strategies for breast cancer patients.