The Role of Intestinal Flora in Anti-Tumor Antibiotic Therapy

Anti-tumor antibiotics are chemical substances produced by micro-organisms to control cancer development. Some of the currently used cancer treatment regimens are anti-tumor antibiotics. However, many studies have demonstrated that anti-tumor antibiotics may have adverse effects on normal cells. This calls for development of strategies to alleviate these negative effects and improve cancer treatment. Recent studies have suggested that the efficacy of anti-tumor antibiotics may be affected by intestinal microbiota. For instance, intestinal microbiota can alleviate the negative effects of antibiotic treatment and regulate the tumor immune micro-environment. In this way, anti-tumor antibiotics can improve tumor control. However, the specific mechanisms need to be further explored. This review discusses the effect of intestinal flora on anti-tumor antibiotic therapy and summarizes the specific mechanisms by which antibiotics inhibit harmful intestinal micro-organisms and promote efficacy of probiotics, which may improve the control of neoplasm development and growth.