ساخت اکانت کاربری رایگان

مقالات پذیرفته شده کنگره

  • صفحه نخست
  • مقالات پذیرفته شده اولین کنگره بین المللی ژنتیک سرطان
بازنشر

  • The Association Between the Gut Microbiome and Cancer Treatment: From Modulation of Therapeutic Response to Microbial Interventions

  • Maryam Tahmasbi,1,*
    1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran


  • Introduction: Cancer remains one of the major global health challenges. Despite substantial advances in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, considerable interindividual variability in treatment response persists. In recent years, the gut microbiome has emerged as an important factor potentially contributing to this variability. The gut microbiome comprises a complex community of microorganisms and their associated genes that can influence cancer therapy through interactions with the immune system, production of bioactive metabolites, modulation of drug metabolism, and effects on the tumor microenvironment. Increasing evidence suggests that both microbial composition and functional activity may affect not only treatment efficacy but also treatment-related adverse effects and toxicity.
  • Methods: This study was conducted as a narrative review. Relevant literature addressing the association between the gut microbiome and cancer treatment was identified through searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Search terms included gut microbiome, gut microbiota, cancer treatment, immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Human studies, clinical trials, observational studies, and relevant review articles evaluating the effects of the microbiome on treatment response, efficacy, or toxicity were prioritized. Particular emphasis was placed on recent evidence published between 2023 and 2025.
  • Results: The reviewed evidence indicates that the relationship between the gut microbiome and cancer immunotherapy has substantial clinical support. Gut microbial communities can modulate antitumor immunity through effects on dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, cytokines, and other immune components, thereby influencing responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 pathways. However, no single microbial composition or universally applicable microbial signature has yet been established to reliably predict immunotherapy response across different cancer types and patient populations. Clinical studies of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) provide further evidence of this relationship. In a phase I clinical trial involving patients with advanced melanoma, FMT combined with anti-PD-1 therapy was associated with an objective response rate of 65% and accompanied by alterations in the gut microbiome, including increased similarity to donor microbial communities in responding patients. These findings support the possibility that microbiome modulation may alter immunotherapy response, although larger controlled studies are required to confirm its efficacy and safety. The gut microbiome may also influence chemotherapy through microbial drug metabolism, production of bioactive metabolites, regulation of inflammation, and modulation of host immune responses. A systematic review published in 2025, including 22 human studies, identified associations between specific microbial taxa and chemotherapy response or toxicity; however, substantial heterogeneity among studies and limited evidence of causality prevented the identification of a definitive microbial profile . Regarding radiotherapy, current evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship. Radiotherapy can alter microbial composition and function, whereas the gut and intratumoral microbiome may influence antitumor immune responses and certain treatment-related toxicities . Microbiome-based interventions, including dietary modification, probiotics, prebiotics, FMT, and targeted microbial products, are also being investigated as potential strategies for improving therapeutic outcomes
  • Conclusion: Despite promising evidence, translating microbiome research into clinical practice remains challenging. Differences in diet, antibiotic and other medication use, age, comorbidities, geographic and demographic characteristics, as well as variation in sampling, sequencing, and analytical methods, complicate comparisons across studies [1,4]. Therefore, an association between a specific microbial species or profile and treatment response does not necessarily establish a causal relationship, and no standardized microbial signature is currently applicable to all patients or cancer types. Future research should prioritize multicenter longitudinal studies, standardized microbiome assessment, and identification of functional biomarkers alongside taxonomic profiles. Interventional approaches such as dietary modification, prebiotics, probiotics, FMT, and targeted microbial products may provide opportunities to modulate the microbiome and improve treatment responses. However, their efficacy and safety must be validated in well-designed, controlled clinical trials before routine clinical implementation. A deeper understanding of microbiome–host–tumor interactions may ultimately contribute to precision oncology and the development of personalized therapeutic strategies.
  • Keywords: Gut microbiome; Cancer; Immunotherapy; Chemotherapy; Radiotherapy

به خانواده بزرگ کنسر ژنتیکس و ژنومیکس سرطان بپیوندید!

ایجاد حساب کاربری رایگان