Pharmacomicrobiomics in precision cancer therapy: bench to bedside

Front Immunol. 2024 Sep 9:15:1428420. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1428420. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

The burgeoning field of pharmacomicrobiomics offers promising insights into the intricate interplay between the microbiome and cancer, shaping responses to diverse treatment modalities. This review aims to analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying interactions between distinct microbiota types and cancer, as well as their influence on treatment outcomes. We explore how the microbiome impacts antitumor immunity, and response to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, unveiling its multifaceted roles in cancer progression and therapy resistance. Moreover, we discuss the challenges hindering the development of microbiome-based interventions in cancer therapy, including standardization, validation, and clinical translation. By synthesizing clinical evidence, we underscore the transformative potential of harnessing pharmacomicrobiomics in guiding cancer treatment decisions, paving the way for improved patient outcomes in clinical practice.

Keywords: cancer therapy; microbiome intervention; microbiota; pharmacomicrobiome; precision medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Microbiota
  • Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Precision Medicine*
  • Translational Research, Biomedical

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.