Lactic Acid Bacteria-Derived Postbiotics as Adjunctive Agents in Breast Cancer Treatment to Boost the Antineoplastic Effect of a Conventional Therapeutic Comprising Tamoxifen and a New Drug Candidate: An Aziridine–Hydrazide Hydrazone Derivative

Sep 21, 2026

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Breast cancer remains linked to high mortality and morbidity, and roughly 20–30% of ER-positive patients show resistance to tamoxifen. This study evaluates postbiotics derived from L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus in an in vitro MCF-7 breast cancer model, testing their ability to complement therapy using tamoxifen and an aziridine–hydrazide hydrazone derivative. Cell viability and apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and proliferation (PI flow cytometry and Ki-67) were assessed. Postbiotics reduced viability, promoted apoptosis, and minimally impacted normal cell viability while enhancing tamoxifen and candidate drug cytotoxicity and suppressing proliferation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Keywords

1. Introduction

Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and tamoxifen

Rationale for combination therapy and postbiotics

molecules Article Lactic Acid Bacteria-Derived Postbiotics as Adjunctive Agents in Breast Cancer Treatment to Boost the Antineoplastic Effect of a Conventional Therapeutic Comprising Tamoxifen and a New Drug Candidate: An Aziridine–Hydrazide Hydrazone Derivative Joanna Wasiak 1, Pola Głowacka 1, Agnieszka Pudlarz 1, Adam M. Pieczonka 2, Katarzyna Dzitko 3, Janusz Szemraj 1 and Monika Witusik-Perkowska 1, * Citation: Wasiak, J.; Głowacka, P.; Pudlarz, A.; Pieczonka, A.M.; Dzitko, K.; Szemraj, J.; Witusik-Perkowska, M. Lactic Acid Bacteria-Derived Postbiotics as Adjunctive Agents in Breast Cancer Treatment to Boost the Antineoplastic Effect of a Conventional Therapeutic Comprising Tamoxifen and a New Drug Candidate: An Aziridine–Hydrazide Hydrazone Derivative. Molecules 2024, 29, 2292 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)molecules29102292 Academic Editor: Marcus Tullius Scotti Received: 19 February 2024 Revised: 24 April 2024 Accepted: 30 April 2024 Published: 13 May 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . 1 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Str., 92-215 Lodz, Poland; [joanna.wasiak@umed.lodz.pl](joanna.wasiak@umed.lodz.pl) (J.W.); [pola.glowacka@umed.lodz.pl](pola.glowacka@umed.lodz.pl) (P.G.); [agnieszka.pudlarz@umed.lodz.pl](agnieszka.pudlarz@umed.lodz.pl) (A.P.); [janusz.szemraj@umed.lodz.pl](janusz.szemraj@umed.lodz.pl) (J.S.) 2 Department of Organic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, Tamka 12 Str., 91-403 Lodz, Poland; [adam.pieczonka@chemia.uni.lodz.pl](adam.pieczonka@chemia.uni.lodz.pl) 3 Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16 Str., 90-237 Lodz, Poland; [katarzyna.dzitko@biol.uni.lodz.pl](katarzyna.dzitko@biol.uni.lodz.pl) * [Correspondence: monika.witusik-perkowska@umed.lodz.pl](Correspondence: monika.witusik-perkowska@umed.lodz.pl) Abstract: Breast cancer is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. As about 20–30% of patients exhibiting ER-positive phenotype are resistant to hormonal treatment with the standard drug tamoxifen, finding new therapies is a necessity. Postbiotics, metabolites, and macromolecules isolated from probiotic bacteria cultures have been proven to have sufficient bioactivity to exert prohealth and anticancer effects, making them viable adjunctive agents for the treatment of various neoplasms, including breast cancer. In the current study, postbiotics derived from L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus cultures were assessed on an in vitro breast cancer model as potential adjunctive agents to therapy utilizing tamoxifen and a candidate aziridine–hydrazide hydrazone derivative drug. Cell viability and cell death processes, including apoptosis, were analyzed for neoplastic MCF-7 cells treated with postbiotics and synthetic compounds. Cell cycle progression and proliferation were analyzed by PI-based flow cytometry and Ki-67 immunostaining. Postbiotics decreased viability and triggered apoptosis in MCF-7, modestly affecting the cell cycle and showing a lack of negative impact on normal cell viability. Moreover, they enhanced the cytotoxic effect of tamoxifen and the new candidate drug toward MCF-7, accelerating apoptosis and the inhibition of proliferation. This illustrates postbiotics’ potential as natural adjunctive agents supporting anticancer therapy based on synthetic drugs. Keywords: lactic acid bacteria; L. plantarum; L. rhamnosus; postbiotics; breast cancer; tamoxifen; aziridine–hydrazide hydrazones; adjunctive therapy 1. Introduction Br

FAQs

Why are new therapies needed for ER-positive breast cancer treated with tamoxifen?

About 20–30% of patients with ER-positive disease show intrinsic resistance to tamoxifen, so improved or alternative treatment strategies are required.

What postbiotics were tested, and in which breast cancer model?

Postbiotics derived from L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus were tested in an in vitro breast cancer model using MCF-7 cells.

How did the postbiotics affect MCF-7 cell behavior in vitro?

They decreased cell viability and triggered apoptosis, modestly influencing the cell cycle while not showing negative impact on normal cell viability.

Did postbiotics enhance the effect of tamoxifen and the new candidate drug?

Yes. Postbiotics enhanced the cytotoxic effects of tamoxifen and the aziridine–hydrazide hydrazone derivative, accelerating apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation.

Sep 21, 2026

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