Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

493
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
493
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

7.5K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.5K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

4.9K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

7.6K
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
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...
7.6K
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

6.6K
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
6.6K
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

2.0K
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.0K
  1. Home
  3. Research Domains
  5. Biomedical And Clinical Sciences
  7. Oncology And Carcinogenesis
  9. Molecular Targets
  11. Microbiota-derived Urocanic Acid Triggered By Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Potentiates Cancer Immunotherapy Efficacy

Microbiota-derived urocanic acid triggered by tyrosine kinase inhibitors potentiates cancer immunotherapy efficacy

Mengying Zhang1, Zhonghong Wei2, Bin Wei3

  • 1Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.

Cell Host & Microbe
|May 29, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development
11:02

Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development

Published on: October 30, 2013

21.2K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies
07:47

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies

Published on: September 15, 2023

1.4K
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
07:25

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Published on: March 6, 2018

13.0K

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) enhance immunotherapy by boosting the gut microbe Muribaculum and its metabolite urocanic acid (UCA). UCA reduces suppressor cells, improving cancer treatment response and serving as a predictive biomarker.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Host-gut microbiota interactions significantly impact cancer progression and treatment efficacy.
  • Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) combined with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) improve outcomes, but patient responses vary.
  • Mediators of this heterogeneity in response to cancer therapies are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of gut microbiota and its metabolites in mediating responses to combined TKI and ICB cancer therapy.
  • To identify potential biomarkers for predicting patient response to immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gut microbiota composition and metabolite levels in cancer patients undergoing TKI and ICB treatment.
  • Mechanistic studies involving urocanic acid (UCA) and its effect on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and the CXCL1-CXCR2 signaling pathway.
Keywords:
Muribaculumgut microbiotaimmune checkpoint blockadetyrosine kinase inhibitors

Related Experiment Videos

Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development
11:02

Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development

Published on: October 30, 2013

21.2K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies
07:47

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies

Published on: September 15, 2023

1.4K
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
07:25

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Published on: March 6, 2018

13.0K
  • In vitro experiments to elucidate the molecular interaction between UCA and IκBα.

    • Main Results:

    • TKIs increase the abundance of Muribaculum and its metabolite urocanic acid (UCA).
    • UCA reduces MDSC recruitment via the CXCL1-CXCR2 axis by inhibiting p65 in tumor vascular endothelial cells.
    • Clinical ICB responders exhibit higher fecal UCA concentrations and Muribaculum gordoncarteri levels compared to non-responders.

    Conclusions:

    • The gut microbial metabolite urocanic acid (UCA) plays a crucial role in potentiating the response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).
    • UCA and Muribaculum gordoncarteri are identified as potential predictive biomarkers for cancer immunotherapy response.
    • Targeting the gut microbiota and its metabolites may offer novel strategies to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
    urocanic acid