Leveraging gut microbiota for enhanced immune checkpoint blockade in solid tumor therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Gut microbiota influences antitumor immunity and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy outcomes.
• Individual responses to ICB vary due to differences in gut microbial composition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how specific gut bacteria affect ICB efficacy and toxicity.
• To outline strategies for optimizing ICB using microbiota-targeted interventions.
• To discuss microbial biomarkers for predicting ICB response.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on gut microbiota and ICB.
• Analysis of mechanisms by which bacteria modulate immune responses.
• Examination of translational strategies and clinical evidence.

Main Results:

• Specific bacterial species can enhance or impede ICB by altering immune cell activation, antigen presentation, and inflammation.
• Microbiota-targeted interventions (prebiotics, FMT, metabolite therapy) show potential for overcoming ICB resistance and managing toxicities, particularly immune-related colitis.
• Microbial biomarkers are emerging for predicting ICB response in cancers like melanoma, lung, and hepatobiliary cancers.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiome is a critical factor in ICB efficacy and safety.
• Microbiota-centered approaches hold promise for personalized cancer immunotherapy.
• Targeting the gut microbiota can improve patient outcomes in ICB treatments and mitigate adverse events.