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Host-microbe cross talk in cancer therapy
Barbara Vanhoecke1, Andrea Stringer
1aMucositis Research Group, Centre for Personalised Cancer Medicine (CPCM), Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in Oral Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia bLaboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium cSansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Purpose Of Review:
Microbiota secrete a multitude of factors that either confer virulence or promote colonization because they are continuously challenged by host immune responses. The dynamic interplay between the host's immune response and microbiota eventually determines the outcome for the host: health or disease. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in this interplay as they can recognize both microbial and host-derived ligands on the basis of the context in which recognition occurs.
Recent Findings:
Evidence is accumulating that conventional cancer therapies alter interactions and cross talks between the host and microbiota. This has been shown for intestinal mucositis, a common side-effect of various cancer therapies. Advances have been made in the development of new and less toxic cancer strategies. One promising field is immunotherapy on the basis of TLR activation through recognition of microbial-associated molecular patterns.
Summary:
Evidence is emerging, indicating that existing cancer therapies have implications on the composition and functionality of the host-microbiota environment. This may favor the colonization of pathogens and build up the overall toxicity of the drug. Exploitation of the host-microbiota cross talks mediated by TLRs is an emerging and promising field in the search for new, less toxic anticancer strategies.
Insights
Conventional cancer therapies impact the host-microbiota environment, potentially increasing pathogen colonization and drug toxicity. Exploiting Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways offers a promising avenue for developing safer anticancer strategies by modulating these interactions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- The host immune system and microbiota engage in a dynamic interplay, influencing health and disease outcomes.
- Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial in mediating host-microbiota interactions by recognizing microbial and host-derived signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of conventional cancer therapies on host-microbiota interactions.
- To explore the role of TLRs in the context of cancer therapy and the microbiome.
- To identify emerging strategies for developing less toxic anticancer treatments.
Main Methods:
- Review of accumulating evidence on cancer therapies and their effects on host-microbiota interactions.
- Analysis of the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in recognizing microbial-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs).
Main Results:
- Conventional cancer therapies demonstrably alter host-microbiota interactions, contributing to side effects like intestinal mucositis.
- These alterations can promote pathogen colonization and exacerbate drug toxicity.
- TLR activation by MAMPs represents a promising approach for novel immunotherapies.
Conclusions:
- Emerging evidence highlights the significant implications of cancer therapies on the host-microbiota environment.
- Targeting host-microbiota crosstalk via TLRs is a promising strategy for developing safer and more effective anticancer therapies.
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However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
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