Potential effects of gut microbiota on host cancers: focus on immunity, DNA damage, cellular pathways, and anticancer therapy

Abstract

The symbiotic bacteria that live in the human gut and the metabolites they produce have long influenced local and systemic physiological and pathological processes of the host. The gut microbiota are increasingly being recognized for its impact on a range of human diseases, including cancer, it may play a key role in the occurrence, progression, treatment, and prognosis of many types of cancer. Understanding the functional role of the gut microbiota in cancer is crucial for the development of the era of personalized medicine. Here, we review recent advances in research and summarize the important associations and clear experimental evidence for the role of the gut microbiota in a variety of human cancers, focus on the application and possible challenges associated with the gut microbiota in antitumor therapy. In conclusion, our research demonstrated the multifaceted mechanisms of gut microbiota affecting human cancer and provides directions and ideas for future clinical research.

Emerging polymeric materials for treatment of oral diseases: design strategy towards a unique oral environment

“…53,79,80 It has been explored to understand the host–microbiota interaction and manipulate the microbiota for cancer therapy. 81–84…”

The Killer’s Web: Interconnection between Inflammation, Epigenetics and Nutrition in Cancer

“…Notably, studies have revealed that the microbiota can bolster the anti-tumor immune response by releasing microorganism-specific peptides. These microbial-derived peptides share similarities with tumor neoantigens and can reinvigorate the anti-tumor immune response by directly priming CD8 + T cells or through the activation of the innate immune system [ 378 , 379 ].…”

Enterosorption may contribute to the reactivation of anticancer immunity and be an effective approach to tumor growth control

“…In the past decade, the relationship between gut microbiota and the immune system has gained paramount importance. There is now essential evidence that the state of gut microbiota plays a direct and crucial role in the formation and regulation of antitumor immune response and disbalance in the composition of gut microbiota leads to adverse consequences in both innate and adaptive immune response shaping ( 19 , 24 , 29 – 31 , 33 ). In particular, recent preclinical and clinical studies suggest that the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites affect cancer patients’ response to immunotherapy by PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint inhibitors ( 24 ).…”

“…This immunomodulatory effect of gut microbiota is not confined solely to the local level within the gastrointestinal tract but extends to the systemic level, impacting immune components of the blood, lymph, and peripheral lymphoid tissues and organs. Moreover, there is even the possibility that bioactive microbial metabolites influence the processes of immune maturation in central organs of the immune system such as the bone marrow and thymus affecting the key immunoregulatory pathways ( 19 , 24 , 29 – 31 , 33 ).…”