Microbiome-modulated immunotherapy in oncology: Current applications and future prospects

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment but faces challenges with response variability and resistance.
• The tumor microenvironment, including its microbial composition, significantly impacts immunotherapy efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of the microbiota in modulating antitumor immunity and influencing cancer immunotherapy outcomes.
• To review current and emerging microbiome-based strategies for enhancing cancer immunotherapy and managing irAEs.

Main Methods:

• Review of current scientific literature on the interplay between the host microbiome and cancer immunotherapy.
• Analysis of mechanisms by which microbial communities regulate the tumor immune microenvironment.
• Examination of preclinical and clinical data on microbiome-targeted interventions in oncology.

Main Results:

• Microbiota influence antitumor immunity through various mechanisms, including microbial metabolites and molecular patterns.
• Microbiome-based strategies, such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, show potential in early clinical studies to improve immunotherapy response and reduce irAEs.
• Significant challenges include strain specificity, interindividual variability, and ensuring the safety of microbiome interventions.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiome is a critical factor in cancer immunotherapy response and toxicity.
• Targeting the microbiome offers a promising avenue for personalized cancer treatment, but requires further mechanistic understanding and standardized approaches.
• Future research should focus on integrating multi-omics data and developing personalized interventions to optimize microbiome modulation for precision immunotherapy.