The Anti-Inflammatory, Immunomodulatory, and Pro-Autophagy Activities of Probiotics for Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Narrative Review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern, particularly in Western countries where there is high consumption of processed food. Gut microbiota, intestinal inflammation, and autophagy play pivotal roles in CRC initiation and progression. Probiotics and probiotic metabolites (particularly short-chain fatty acids) have emerged as potential preventive and adjuvant therapeutics by restoring a balanced gut microbiota, dampening inflammation, stimulating immune response, and improving barrier integrity and intestinal epithelial homeostasis by modulating autophagy. This narrative review discusses the current evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and pro-autophagy effects of probiotics and their metabolites and explores their potential preventive and therapeutic applications in CRC management.