Drug–Microbiota Interaction in Colon Cancer Therapy: Impact of Antibiotics
Ali Mohamed,
Harry Menon,
Marina Chulkina,
Nelson S. Yee,
Irina V. Pinchuk
Affiliations
Ali Mohamed
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Harry Menon
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Marina Chulkina
Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis Program, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Nelson S. Yee
Next-Generation Therapies Program, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Irina V. Pinchuk
Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis Program, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Colon adenocarcinoma is one of the most common malignancies, and it is highly lethal. Chemotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of colon cancer at various stages of the disease. The gut microbiome has emerged as a key player in colon cancer development and progression, and it can also alter the therapeutic agent’s efficacy and toxicities. Antibiotics can directly and/or indirectly affect the balance of the gut microbiome and, therefore, the clinical outcomes. In this article, we provided an overview of the composition of the gut microbiome under homeostasis and the mechanistic links between gut microbiota and colon cancer. The relationship between the use of oral antibiotics and colon cancer, as well as the impact of the gut microbiome on the efficacy and toxicities of chemotherapy in colon cancer, are discussed. Potential interventions to modulate microbiota and improve chemotherapy outcomes are discussed. Further studies are indicated to address these key gaps in the field and provide a scientific basis for the design of novel microbiota-based approaches for prevention/use as adjuvant therapeutics for patients with colon cancer.
