The Intestinal Microbiome and Cancer Immunotherapy

The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a diverse population of bacteria that play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis both within the gut and within the body. These various species of bacteria aid in the digestion and absorption of food products as well as functioning in less obvious roles such as protecting against invasive gastrointestinal infections and modulating the body’s natural immune system.

Recent advances in our understanding of the microbiome’s role in maintaining a balanced immune system has led to the suggestion that the bacterial makeup of the gut microbiome influences the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade drugs, which stimulate the immune system to treat cancer.

The full article is available at https://www.accc-cancer.org/home/learn/immunotherapy/resource-detail/the-intestinal-microbiome-and-cancer-immunotherapy.