Gut microbiome as a treatment in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background

The gut microbiome plays a role in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Aim and objective

This review focuses on whether the gut microbiome is involved in the development and regulation of the host immune system.

Methods

The gut microbiome can influence the production and activity of immune cells and molecules that help to maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier and prevent inflammation. Gut microbiota modulates the anti-cancer immune response. The gut microbiota can influence the function of immune cells, like T cells, that recognize and eliminate cancer cells. Gut microbiota can affect various aspects of cancer progression and the efficacy of various anti-cancer treatments.

Results

Gut microbiota provide promise as a potential biomarker to identify the effect of immunotherapy and as a target for modulation to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy in CRC treatment.

Conclusion

The potential synergistic effect between the gut microbiome and anti-cancer treatment modalities provides an interest in developing strategies to modulate the gut microbiome to improve the efficacy of anti-cancer treatment.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

This review focuses on the gut microbiome in the development and regulation of the host immune system. Gut microbiota provides potential biomarkers to identify the effect of immunotherapy and as a target for modulation of immunotherapy in the treatment of CRC. This provides potential synergistic effects between the gut microbiome and anti-cancer treatment modalities.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Chemotherapy
• colorectal cancer
• gut microbiota
• immune checkpoint inhibitors

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the technical support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Authors’ contributions

Murad Khan designed the review. Suleman Shah, Wahid Shah, and Ikram Khan created the figures. Hamid Ali, Ijaz Ali, and Riaz Ullah collected the literature review data. Xiufang Wang and Arshad Mehmood drafted the manuscript. Yanli Wang supervised the review. All the authors have approved the submission.

Data availability

All processed data used in this review can be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This review was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82325030 and 52371250) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2305000).