Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanoma

Abstract Gut microbiota has been associated with carcinogenesis and immune regulation. While there is evidence supporting its influence on immunotherapy response in melanoma, its impact on BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy remains unexplored. This study assessed gut microbiota composition and immune-associa...

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Main Authors: Mora Guardamagna, Miguel-Angel Berciano-Guerrero, Rocío Lavado-Valenzuela, Édouard Auclin, Juan Luis Onieva-Zafra, Isaac Plaza-Andrades, Javier Oliver, Alicia Garrido-Aranda, Elisabeth Perez-Ruiz, Martina Álvarez, María Carmen Ocaña, María Isabel Queipo-Ortuño, Isabel Barragán, Antonio Rueda-Dominguez
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11054-2
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author Mora Guardamagna
Miguel-Angel Berciano-Guerrero
Rocío Lavado-Valenzuela
Édouard Auclin
Juan Luis Onieva-Zafra
Isaac Plaza-Andrades
Javier Oliver
Alicia Garrido-Aranda
Elisabeth Perez-Ruiz
Martina Álvarez
María Carmen Ocaña
María Isabel Queipo-Ortuño
Isabel Barragán
Antonio Rueda-Dominguez
author_facet Mora Guardamagna
Miguel-Angel Berciano-Guerrero
Rocío Lavado-Valenzuela
Édouard Auclin
Juan Luis Onieva-Zafra
Isaac Plaza-Andrades
Javier Oliver
Alicia Garrido-Aranda
Elisabeth Perez-Ruiz
Martina Álvarez
María Carmen Ocaña
María Isabel Queipo-Ortuño
Isabel Barragán
Antonio Rueda-Dominguez
author_sort Mora Guardamagna
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gut microbiota has been associated with carcinogenesis and immune regulation. While there is evidence supporting its influence on immunotherapy response in melanoma, its impact on BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy remains unexplored. This study assessed gut microbiota composition and immune-associated genes in melanoma, to generate hypothesis on prognostic and predictive biomarkers for BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy. This prospective, observational study analyzed fecal and blood samples from 26 patients diagnosed with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma. Samples were collected at baseline (T0) and at first radiological evaluation (T1). Patients were stratified by treatment response and toxicity. Partial responders had baseline enrichment of Lachnospiraceae, Coriobacteriaceae, and Adlercreutzia. Complete responders showed abundance of Prevotellaceae, Cerasicoccaceae and Lawsonia. Oscillospira was associated with moderate-to-severe toxicity. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of TAP1 y PSMB8 during treatment in responders, with persistent downregulation of LAG3, CD36, SLAMF7, NOD1, SLAMF6, CX3CR1 and ICAM2. Overall, baseline microbiota composition differed by response depth, with abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Coriobacteriaceae, and Adlercreutzia in partial responders and Prevotellaceae, Cerasicoccaceae, and Lawsonia in complete responders. A gene signature of immune-suppresive genes was persistently downregulated in responders. Our findings suggest that specific gut microbial taxa and immune-related gene expression patterns may be associated with differential responses to BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy in metastatic melanoma.
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spelling doaj-art-dae1b56df3ef4584a476a28d291381e62025-08-20T03:05:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-11054-2Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanomaMora Guardamagna0Miguel-Angel Berciano-Guerrero1Rocío Lavado-Valenzuela2Édouard Auclin3Juan Luis Onieva-Zafra4Isaac Plaza-Andrades5Javier Oliver6Alicia Garrido-Aranda7Elisabeth Perez-Ruiz8Martina Álvarez9María Carmen Ocaña10María Isabel Queipo-Ortuño11Isabel Barragán12Antonio Rueda-Dominguez13Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDDepartment of Medicine and Dermatology, Medical School University of MálagaVirgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDInstitut BergoniéGroup of Translational Research in Cancer Immunotherapy and Epigenetics (B-05), Medical Oncology Unit of Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina–IBIMA Plataforma BionandVirgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDVirgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDVirgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDGroup of “New Horizons for Cancer Patients” (B-23). Regional University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDCancer Molecular Biology Laboratory, CIMESCancer Molecular Biology Laboratory, CIMESVirgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDGroup of Pharmacoepigenetics, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska InstituteVirgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina-IBIMA Plataforma BIONANDAbstract Gut microbiota has been associated with carcinogenesis and immune regulation. While there is evidence supporting its influence on immunotherapy response in melanoma, its impact on BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy remains unexplored. This study assessed gut microbiota composition and immune-associated genes in melanoma, to generate hypothesis on prognostic and predictive biomarkers for BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy. This prospective, observational study analyzed fecal and blood samples from 26 patients diagnosed with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma. Samples were collected at baseline (T0) and at first radiological evaluation (T1). Patients were stratified by treatment response and toxicity. Partial responders had baseline enrichment of Lachnospiraceae, Coriobacteriaceae, and Adlercreutzia. Complete responders showed abundance of Prevotellaceae, Cerasicoccaceae and Lawsonia. Oscillospira was associated with moderate-to-severe toxicity. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of TAP1 y PSMB8 during treatment in responders, with persistent downregulation of LAG3, CD36, SLAMF7, NOD1, SLAMF6, CX3CR1 and ICAM2. Overall, baseline microbiota composition differed by response depth, with abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Coriobacteriaceae, and Adlercreutzia in partial responders and Prevotellaceae, Cerasicoccaceae, and Lawsonia in complete responders. A gene signature of immune-suppresive genes was persistently downregulated in responders. Our findings suggest that specific gut microbial taxa and immune-related gene expression patterns may be associated with differential responses to BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy in metastatic melanoma.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11054-2Gut microbiotaMetastatic melanomaImmune expression genesTranslational researchBRAF mutated melanomaImmune system
spellingShingle Mora Guardamagna
Miguel-Angel Berciano-Guerrero
Rocío Lavado-Valenzuela
Édouard Auclin
Juan Luis Onieva-Zafra
Isaac Plaza-Andrades
Javier Oliver
Alicia Garrido-Aranda
Elisabeth Perez-Ruiz
Martina Álvarez
María Carmen Ocaña
María Isabel Queipo-Ortuño
Isabel Barragán
Antonio Rueda-Dominguez
Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanoma
Scientific Reports
Gut microbiota
Metastatic melanoma
Immune expression genes
Translational research
BRAF mutated melanoma
Immune system
title Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanoma
title_full Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanoma
title_fullStr Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanoma
title_full_unstemmed Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanoma
title_short Association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in BRAF mutated melanoma
title_sort association of gut microbiota and immune gene expression with response to targeted therapy in braf mutated melanoma
topic Gut microbiota
Metastatic melanoma
Immune expression genes
Translational research
BRAF mutated melanoma
Immune system
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11054-2
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