Gut microbiota: a potential target for improved cancer therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Drug resistance and toxicity are significant challenges in cancer therapy.
• The gut microbiota's role in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy efficacy and toxicity is increasingly recognized.
• Microbiota modulation shows potential for enhancing cancer treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influences cancer therapy efficacy and toxicity.
• To explore the use of gut microbiota as biomarkers for predicting cancer treatment outcomes.
• To discuss methods for targeting the gut microbiota to optimize cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of preclinical studies and clinical trials.
• Analysis of mechanisms linking gut microbiota to cancer therapy response.
• Overview of microbiota modulation strategies.

Main Results:

• Gut microbiota composition affects chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy efficacy.
• Microbiota modulation through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, antibiotics (ATB), and diet can alter treatment outcomes.
• Gut microbiota holds potential for developing biomarkers to predict treatment success.

Conclusions:

• Targeting the gut microbiota is a promising strategy to improve cancer therapy.
• Understanding the gut microbiota-cancer therapy interaction can lead to novel therapeutic approaches.
• Further research into microbiota modulation may yield new targets for cancer treatment.