Gut microbiome and tumor immunotherapy.

Abstract

Multiple innovative molecular techniques have established compelling connections between the gut microbiome and cancers. Studies have also revealed that the microbiome and microbiome-specific metabolites can significantly influence cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Advancements in cancer immunotherapy driven by a targeted immune system approach have considerably improved the treatment landscape in cancer. However, the full potential of tumor immunotherapy remains to be explored, and many challenges need to be addressed. This review provides a summary of the current evidence regarding the presence of microbiota and how it can impact the response to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy. Additionally, it addresses the challenges and limitations of gut microbiome and cancer immunotherapy.