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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Non-invasive Assessment of the Efficacy of New Therapeutics for Intestinal Pathologies Using Serial Endoscopic Imaging of Live Mice
Published on: March 10, 2015
The impact of the host intestinal microbiome on carcinogenesis and the response to chemotherapy
Jaime N Wertman1,2, Katherine A Dunn1,3, Ketan Kulkarni1
1Department of Pediatrics/Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Dalhousie University/IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada.
Abstract:
The microbiome consists of all microbes present on and within the human body. An unbalanced, or 'dysbiotic' intestinal microbiome is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and some cancer types. Drug treatment can alter the intestinal microbiome composition. Additionally, some chemotherapeutics interact with microbiome components, leading to changes in drug safety and/or efficacy. The intestinal microbiome is a modifiable target, using strategies such as antibiotic treatment, fecal microbial transplantation or probiotic administration. Understanding the impact of the microbiome on the safety and efficacy of cancer treatment may result in improved treatment outcome. The present review seeks to summarize relevant research and look to the future of cancer treatment, where the intestinal microbiome is recognized as an actionable treatment target.
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