Bile Acids and Microbiota Interplay in Pancreatic Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The gut microbiota is involved in homeostasis but can facilitate the insurgence of diseases including pancreatic cancer when altered. These gut microbes modulate the metabolism of bile acids, which are found to be abnormal in pancreatic cancer and diseases considered risk factors for it. Therefore, changes in the functional state of the gut microbiota may result in bile acid alterations, which eventually could promote cancer development. A better understanding of contribution of the gut microbiota in pancreatic cancer development would guide us to new strategies for early diagnosis and opportunities to improve a patient’s response to therapy. This review examines the current knowledge on gut microbiota and bile acid interrelation and their relationships with pancreatic cancer. ABSTRACT: Evidence suggests the involvement of the microbiota, including oral, intra-tumoral and gut, in pancreatic cancer progression and response to therapy. The gut microbiota modulates the bile acid pool and is associated with maintaining host physiology. Studies have shown that the bile acid/gut microbiota axis is dysregulated in pancreatic cancer. Bile acid receptor expression and bile acid levels are dysregulated in pancreatic cancer as well. Studies have also shown that bile acids can cause pancreatic cell injury and facilitate cancer cell proliferation. The microbiota and its metabolites, including bile acids, are also altered in other conditions considered risk factors for pancreatic cancer development and can alter responses to chemotherapeutic treatments, thus affecting patient outcomes. Altogether, these findings suggest that the gut microbial and/or bile acid profiles could also serve as biomarkers for pancreatic cancer detection. This review will discuss the current knowledge on the interaction between gut microbiota interaction and bile acid metabolism in pancreatic cancer.