postbiotics: a new approach from gut health to cancer therapy

Recent research has increasingly highlighted the potential of postbiotics, non-viable microbial metabolites and cellular components, in enhancing human health, particularly through gut microbiota modulation and cancer therapy.  unlike probiotics, postbiotics offer advantages such as improved stability, safety, and ease of standardization. their ability to provide therapeutic benefits without the risks associated with live microbes makes them promising candidates for clinical applications, as cancer adjuvants, and functional food applications. these bioactive compounds can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce side effects by exhibiting multiple anti-cancer mechanisms, including disrupting carcinogenic pathways, enhancing gut barrier integrity, and reducing inflammation. evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrates their potential against various cancers, including colorectal, breast, gastric, and liver cancers. despite these promising preclinical results, several challenges hinder their clinical translation, including variability in formulations, lack of standardized production methods, and limited clinical trials to confirm efficacy and safety. this review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving definitions, classifications, and sources of postbiotics, as well as the mechanisms through which they may influence cancer development and progression, and highlights additional health benefits they confer.  moreover, it underscores the critical need for further research to identify specific bioactive compounds, optimize delivery systems, and establish safety profiles through rigorous clinical investigations. harnessing postbiotics could revolutionize cancer prevention and treatment strategies, offering safe, effective, and adjunctive therapeutic options that integrate with personalized medicine and functional nutrition.