Ermolenko EI, Baryshnikova NV, Kovalis SA, Novilova NS, Orlova VV, Ilyina AS, Kashchenko VA, Leontieva GF, Suvorov AN. Enterococcal autoprobiotics in the complex treatment of colorectal cancer patient receiving chemotherapy: Two case reports and review of literature. World J Clin Cases 2025; 13(27): 107704 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i27.107704]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Natalia V Baryshnikova, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Pavlova, 12A, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia. baryshnikova_nv@mail.ru
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Cases. Sep 26, 2025; 13(27): 107704 Published online Sep 26, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i27.107704
Enterococcal autoprobiotics in the complex treatment of colorectal cancer patient receiving chemotherapy: Two case reports and review of literature
Elena I Ermolenko, Natalia V Baryshnikova, Sergei A Kovalis, Nadezhda S Novilova, Victoria V Orlova, Anastasia S Ilyina, Victor A Kashchenko, Galina F Leontieva, Alexander N Suvorov
Elena I Ermolenko, Natalia V Baryshnikova, Nadezhda S Novilova, Victoria V Orlova, Galina F Leontieva, Alexander N Suvorov, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
Natalia V Baryshnikova, Department of Internal Diseases of Stomatologic Faculty, Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University, St-Petersburg 197022, Russia
Natalia V Baryshnikova, Laboratory of Medico-social Pediatric Problems, St-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St-Petersburg 194100, Russia
Sergei A Kovalis, Anastasia S Ilyina, Department of Chemotherapy, North-Western District Scientific and Clinical Center Named after L. G. Sokolov, St-Petersburg 194291, Russia
Anastasia S Ilyina, Department of Clinical, Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
Victor A Kashchenko, Head of the Department of Faculty Surgery, St. Petersburg State University Medical Institute, St. Petersburg 190000, Russia
Author contributions: Baryshnikova NV and Ermolenko EI contributed to conceptualization, validation, formal analysis; Kashchenko VA, Baryshnikova NV and Ermolenko EI contributed to methodology; Novilova NS, Orlova VV and Ilyina AS contributed to resources; Leontieva GF, Baryshnikova NV and Ermolenko EI contributed to data curation; Suvorov AN, Kashchenko VA and Ermolenko EI contributed to project administration, supervision; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Natalia V Baryshnikova, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Pavlova, 12A, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia. baryshnikova_nv@mail.ru
Received: March 28, 2025 Revised: April 23, 2025 Accepted: June 24, 2025 Published online: September 26, 2025 Processing time: 130 Days and 18.2 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
According to the literature, significant disorders of gut microbiota are consistently observed in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Disorders of gut microbiota composition are manifesting clinically as abdominal pain, dyspeptic symptoms (such as rumbling, bloating, and altered bowel habits, including both constipation and diarrhea), and overall reduced quality of life. Also, negative changes in the microbiota may be associated with a more frequent development of postoperative complications and complications during chemotherapy.
CASE SUMMARY
Two patients with CRC underwent surgery (laparoscopic left hemicolectomy) and were prescribed chemotherapy regimen consisted of cisplatin, leucovorin, and fluorouracil. Along with prescribed chemotherapy patients took autoprobiotic enterococci. A fecal sample was collected for autoprobiotic preparation, ensuring that the patient had not taken antibiotics, probiotic supplements, or probiotic-containing foods for at least 10 days. An autoprobiotic contained an indigenous strain of Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) was formulated. The patients received the autoprobiotic strain E. faecium (liquid form with a concentration of 8 Lg CFU/mL) orally at a dose of 50 mL twice daily during 10 days, regardless of meal times, from the first day of cytostatic treatment, throughout the first course of chemotherapy. As a result, autoprobiotic intake improved patient well-being and prevent side effects associated with the use of cytostatics.
CONCLUSION
The use of autoprobiotics in the treatment of CRC is a promising area to reduce the risks of postoperative complications, increase the tolerability of the basic chemotherapeutic regimen, as well as improve the quality of life.
Core Tip: The use of individualized autoprobiotic strains of indigenous enterococci can be recommended for postoperative colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing chemotherapy to reduce the risk of postoperative complications, enhance treatment efficacy and tolerability, and improve overall quality of life. Moreover, restoring gut microbiota homeostasis may help lower the risk of CRC recurrence by reducing pro-carcinogenic inflammation associated with gut dysbiosis.
