Colorectal adenocarcinoma is defined as the growth of cancer in areas of the colon or rectum. Colon and rectal adenocarcinoma is one of most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide. Kefir is a fermented milk beverage that is produced from kefir grains that consist of various forms of bacteria and yeast that coexist in a symbiotic relationship. Kefir is known to have many beneficial health effects. In previous studies, the up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2, resulting in apoptosis, has been observed, and confirmed, in cancer cell lines exposed to kefir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether increased expression of NF-κB, a transcription factor involved in the regulation of Bax, will lead to increased Bax expression, and therefore, increased apoptosis. The investigation also aims to determine if the bacteria and yeast present in kefir have a much more significant effect on colorectal adenocarcinoma as opposed to the strains working independently of each other. The exact mechanisms of the effects of the bacteria and yeasts are unknown and researchers have been unable to identify how exactly kefir bacteria and yeast are able to modify the expression of genes.