Novel applications of manipulating gut microbiota for alleviating hematological disorders

Abstract

Investigations toward malignancies involving gut microbiota are still in their infancy, especially in hematology and oncology. There are approximately 1.2 million new hematological malignancy cases, resulting in more than 500,000 cases/year in mortality worldwide. It is through commendable advancements directed toward anticancer therapy in recent times that have significantly improved the survival rate among individuals; however, their cytotoxicity or side effects tend to be challenging for patients to tolerate, attributed to anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy due to the aggressive nature in terms of their mechanism of action. Therefore, novel means, or treatments that could present less or non-toxic modalities are warranted, especially those that decrease unpleasant side effects. Studies indicate that the human body accommodates roughly 40 trillion microorganisms, also referred to as the human microbiota, and the abundance of this microbiota is predominantly found in the gastrointestinal tract. The microbiota is associated with various physiological roles, like immunology, digestive functions, and neural development. Therefore, the aim of this literature is to summarize current innovations (and achievements) in using gut microbiota to alleviate diseases and possible directions to explore toward curing malignancies or associated ailments. In addition, this type of publication seeks to encourage possible directions to be employed in establishing “possible biomarkers” which could be used in both the laboratory and clinical settings; this includes methodologies involving translational medicine through undertakings of improving cancer therapy.