Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes

Although immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved cancer treatment, their effectiveness is limited by primary or acquired resistance in many patients. The gut microbiota, through its production of metabolites and regulation of immune cell functions, plays a vital role in maint...

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Main Authors: Jiexi Yan, Lu Yang, Qingmiao Ren, Chan Zhu, Haiyun Du, Zhouyu Wang, Yaya Qi, Xiaohong Xian, Dongsheng Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1471273/full
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author Jiexi Yan
Lu Yang
Qingmiao Ren
Chan Zhu
Haiyun Du
Zhouyu Wang
Yaya Qi
Xiaohong Xian
Dongsheng Chen
author_facet Jiexi Yan
Lu Yang
Qingmiao Ren
Chan Zhu
Haiyun Du
Zhouyu Wang
Yaya Qi
Xiaohong Xian
Dongsheng Chen
author_sort Jiexi Yan
collection DOAJ
description Although immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved cancer treatment, their effectiveness is limited by primary or acquired resistance in many patients. The gut microbiota, through its production of metabolites and regulation of immune cell functions, plays a vital role in maintaining immune balance and influencing the response to cancer immunotherapies. This review highlights evidence linking specific gut microbial characteristics to increased therapeutic efficacy in a variety of cancers, such as gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, lung cancer, urinary system cancers, and reproductive system cancers, suggesting the gut microbiota’s potential as a predictive biomarker for ICI responsiveness. It also explores the possibility of enhancing ICI effectiveness through fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and dietary modifications. Moreover, the review underscores the need for extensive randomized controlled trials to confirm the gut microbiota’s predictive value and to establish guidelines for microbiota-targeted interventions in immunotherapy. In summary, the article suggests that a balanced gut microbiota is key to maximizing immunotherapy benefits and calls for further research to optimize microbiota modulation strategies for cancer treatment. It advocates for a deeper comprehension of the complex interactions between gut microbiota, host immunity, and cancer therapy, aiming for more personalized and effective treatment options.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-2ae19060f75040fd8a7e92b490ae0c1c2025-08-20T02:07:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242024-11-011510.3389/fimmu.2024.14712731471273Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomesJiexi Yan0Lu Yang1Qingmiao Ren2Chan Zhu3Haiyun Du4Zhouyu Wang5Yaya Qi6Xiaohong Xian7Dongsheng Chen8The Precision Medicine Laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., Ltd., Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaThe Precision Medicine Laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., Ltd., Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaThe Precision Medicine Laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., Ltd., Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaThe Precision Medicine Laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaThe Precision Medicine Laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., Ltd., Nanjing Simcere Medical Laboratory Science Co., Ltd., Nanjing, Jiangsu, ChinaAlthough immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved cancer treatment, their effectiveness is limited by primary or acquired resistance in many patients. The gut microbiota, through its production of metabolites and regulation of immune cell functions, plays a vital role in maintaining immune balance and influencing the response to cancer immunotherapies. This review highlights evidence linking specific gut microbial characteristics to increased therapeutic efficacy in a variety of cancers, such as gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, lung cancer, urinary system cancers, and reproductive system cancers, suggesting the gut microbiota’s potential as a predictive biomarker for ICI responsiveness. It also explores the possibility of enhancing ICI effectiveness through fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and dietary modifications. Moreover, the review underscores the need for extensive randomized controlled trials to confirm the gut microbiota’s predictive value and to establish guidelines for microbiota-targeted interventions in immunotherapy. In summary, the article suggests that a balanced gut microbiota is key to maximizing immunotherapy benefits and calls for further research to optimize microbiota modulation strategies for cancer treatment. It advocates for a deeper comprehension of the complex interactions between gut microbiota, host immunity, and cancer therapy, aiming for more personalized and effective treatment options.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1471273/fullimmune-checkpoint inhibitorsgut microbiotatherapeutic efficacymicrobiota-based interventionsimmunotherapy
spellingShingle Jiexi Yan
Lu Yang
Qingmiao Ren
Chan Zhu
Haiyun Du
Zhouyu Wang
Yaya Qi
Xiaohong Xian
Dongsheng Chen
Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes
Frontiers in Immunology
immune-checkpoint inhibitors
gut microbiota
therapeutic efficacy
microbiota-based interventions
immunotherapy
title Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes
title_full Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes
title_fullStr Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes
title_short Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes
title_sort gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti tumor immunotherapy outcomes
topic immune-checkpoint inhibitors
gut microbiota
therapeutic efficacy
microbiota-based interventions
immunotherapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1471273/full
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