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Gut microbiota as a new target for anticancer therapy: from mechanism to means of regulation

Jiaao Sun1, Shiyan Song1, Jiahua Liu1

  • 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.

NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes
|March 12, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Gut microbiota imbalance is linked to cancer. Modulating gut bacteria shows potential for improving cancer therapy and management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host health and disease.
  • Imbalances in gut microbial composition (dysbiosis) are increasingly associated with various cancers.
  • Understanding this relationship is vital for developing novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of intestinal microbiota in anticancer therapy.
  • To discuss gut microbiota as a potential biomarker for cancer detection and prognosis.
  • To summarize methods for regulating gut microbiota to aid cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on gut microbiota and cancer.
  • Analysis of mechanisms linking gut microbiota to cancer development and treatment response.
  • Synthesis of current findings on microbiota-based cancer biomarkers.
  • Evaluation of strategies for microbiota modulation in cancer therapy.

Main Results:

  • Gut microbiota influences the efficacy of various anticancer therapies.
  • Specific microbial signatures may serve as biomarkers for certain cancers.
  • Dysbiosis is a common feature in cancer patients.
  • Targeted interventions can modulate the gut microbiota composition.

Conclusions:

  • The gut microbiota represents a promising therapeutic target for cancer management.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interactions between gut microbes and cancer.
  • Personalized microbiota-based strategies could enhance cancer treatment outcomes.

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