A pilot surveillance investigation on the influence of a probiotic combination on side-effects caused by common anti-cancer therapies

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible reduction of the side effects caused by cycles of anti-cancer therapies using a probiotic combination of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LR04 (DSM 16605), Lactiplantibacillus pentosus (formerly Lactobacillus pentosus), LPS01 (DSM 21980), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (formerly Lactobacillus plantarum) LP01 (LMG P-21021), and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbruekii LDD01 (DMS 22106). Methods: 180 patients were enrolled and grouped into four categories according to different cancers: breast (n = 38), lung (n=22), colon (n=55) and prostate (n=65). They received the probiotic combination with the first anti-cancer cycle (T0) for 30 days (T1) and reported the symptoms (nausea, vomit, etc.) using an absent-to-severe score. Results: Patients with prostate cancer registered a marked reduction in some symptoms after receiving the probiotic combination. Intestinal-related disorders showed a statistically significant decrease during the use of the probiotic (30 days). Nausea and vomit were reduced from 32.3% to 2.1% (p<0.0001), intestinal swelling from 53.8% to 21.6% (p<0.01), mucositis from 29% to 0 (p<0.001), diarrhea decreases from 38.4% to 8.1% (p<0.001), abdominal pain was reduced from 44.6% to 10.8% (p<0.001) and constipation from 40% to 13.5 % (p<0.05). Patients with colon cancer reported a decreased intestinal swelling over time (54.4% - 38.4%, p<0.05). No statistical differences were found in the two last groups (breast and colon cancer) for all the symptoms after introducing the probiotic. Conclusion: With a continuous focus on safety, a specific probiotic combination in contrasting the side effects of the anti-cancer therapies for the four different cancers here analysed should be considered. This pilot investigation was expected to provide only general indications that must be further validated with numerically larger studies and under more strict parameters.