The role of microbiome in cancer treatment: what’s new in 2023?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A growing body of evidence identifies the composition of the host gut microbiome as a predictor and target of therapeutic response in cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this review, we searched PubMed to identify publications on the microbiome in cancer treatment published between March 2022 and March 2023. RESULTS: The search identified six studies, four on the predictive role of the microbiome, and two interventional studies. Pre-therapeutic host gut microbiome composition analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing was associated with therapeutic response in patients with various malignancies receiving CAR-T treatment or immune checkpoint inhibitors, while in a randomized, open-label phase 1 study, supplementation with the probiotic CBM588 containing Clostridium butyricum showed encouraging results in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer receiving nivolumab plus ipilimumab. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented highlight the opportunity for a personalized approach to cancer treatment based on the pre-therapeutic composition of the host gut microbiome and the targeting of gut microorganisms through dietary intervention.

Keywords

• microbiome
• cancer
• check-point inhibitor
• immune therapy
• personalized medicine.