Monitoring and Modulating Diet and Gut Microbes to Enhance Response and Reduce Toxicity to Cancer Treatment

Authors

Anne Knisely
Yongwoo David Seo
Jennifer A Wargo
Manoj Chelvanambi

Publication Date

1-27-2023

Journal

Cancers

Abstract

The gut microbiome comprises a diverse array of microbial species that have been shown to dynamically modulate host immunity both locally and systemically, as well as contribute to tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the scientific evidence on the role that gut microbes and diet play in response and toxicity to cancer treatment. We highlight studies across multiple cancer cohorts that have shown an association between particular gut microbiome signatures and an improved response to immune checkpoint blockade, chemotherapy, and adoptive cell therapies, as well as the role of particular microbes in driving treatment-related toxicity and how the microbiome can be modulated through strategies, such as fecal transplant. We also summarize the current literature that implicate high fiber and ketogenic diets in improved response rates to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, respectively. Finally, we discuss the relevance of these findings in the context of patient care, advocate for a holistic approach to cancer treatment, and comment on the next frontier of targeted gut and tumor microbiome modulation through novel therapeutics, dietary intervention, and precision-medicine approaches.

Keywords

gut microbiome, cancer immunotherapy, microbiome modulation, antibiotics, toxicity, dietary interventions

Comments

PMID: 36765735

DOI

10.3390/cancers15030777

PMID

36765735

PMCID

PMC9913233

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

January 2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes