The Challenge of ICIs Resistance in Solid Tumours: Could Microbiota and Its Diversity Be Our Secret Weapon?

Abstract

The human microbiota and its functional interaction with the human body were recently returned to the spotlight of the scientific community. In light of the extensive implementation of newer and increasingly precise genome sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, and culturomic, we now have an extraordinary ability to study the microorganisms that live within the human body. Most of the recent studies only focused on the interaction between the intestinal microbiota and one other factor. Considering the complexity of gut microbiota and its role in the pathogenesis of numerous cancers, our aim was to investigate how microbiota is affected by intestinal microenvironment and how microenvironment alterations may influence the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In this context, we show how diet is emerging as a fundamental determinant of microbiota’s community structure and function. Particularly, we describe the role of certain dietary factors, as well as the use of probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and antibiotics in modifying the human microbiota. The modulation of gut microbiota may be a secret weapon to potentiate the efficacy of immunotherapies. In addition, this review sheds new light on the possibility of administering fecal microbiota transplantation to modulate the gut microbiota in cancer treatment. These concepts and how these findings can be translated into the therapeutic response to cancer immunotherapies will be presented.

A Critical Analysis of Postbiotics: Exploring their Potential Impact on the Health and Food Industries

“…45 Phenolic and bio-active components such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics, in addition to macro and micro nutrients, play a vital role as health-promoting ingredients in functional foods. 46 47 In addition to optimizing the health benefits attributed to probiotics, a new concept of postbiotics or nonbiotics has been introduced. 45 By stimulating the immune system, postbiotics are associated with anti-inflammatory development in the intestine and bowel, as well as immunomodulatory, anti-obesogenic, antihypertensive, anti-proliferative, antioxidative, and hypocholesterolemic activities.…”

The role of gut microbiome in immune modulation in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

“… 21 Researchers are beginning to recognize the specific ways in which we can take advantage of modulating our own immune system by altering our diet or taking oral supplementation as a strategy to overcome resistance to immunotherapy and improve patient outcomes. 45 , 46 …”

“…21 Researchers are beginning to recognize the specific ways in which we can take advantage of modulating our own immune system by altering our diet or taking oral supplementation as a strategy to overcome resistance to immunotherapy and improve patient outcomes. 45,46 Administration of PPIs also seems to be linked to resistance to treatments and negative outcomes due to microbial dysbiosis; however, the link is not quite as strong. 47,48 One retrospective study examined the impact of antibiotic use and/or PPI use on efficacy and safety of ICIs in patients with NSCLC, melanoma, upper airway and digestive tract carcinoma or RCC.…”