Role of Probiotics in Enhancing Immune Function and Improving the Effectiveness of Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer often goes unnoticed in its early stages because it causes few or no symptoms, leading to late diagnoses and limited treatment options. The main challenges are delayed detection, drug resistance, and the tumor's complexity, though progress is being made in targeted therapies, immunotherapy, metabolism-based strategies, and early detection methods. Current treatments aim to boost immune responses, extend survival, and improve quality of life. In pancreatic cancer patients, peripheral blood-derived natural killer (NK) cells show reduced numbers, decreased cytotoxic activity, and lower cytokine secretion, which may contribute to tumor growth and spread. NK cell-based immunotherapies have gained attention, with in vitro and mouse studies showing that NK cells can slow the growth of pancreatic tumor stem-like cells and encourage tumor differentiation through cytokines. Preclinical research in humanized mice suggests that NK cell therapies could reduce tumor load and restore immune function. Probiotics are also being studied in preclinical models as a potential adjuvant in therapy to restore immunity, slow tumor growth, and improve outcomes. This review compiles preclinical evidence on the benefits of combining probiotics with NK cell-based treatments for pancreatic cancer. In vitro studies indicate that probiotics can activate immune cells like peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), NK cells, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells to help fight tumors. In humanized mouse models, combining probiotics with NK cell therapy has shown promise in reducing tumor burden, restoring immune function, and even reversing tumor-induced bone damage. The exact probiotic formulations and mechanisms are still under study, and clinical trials are in early stages without conclusive results yet.