About this Research Topic
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Although advances in early diagnosis and therapies have increased survival rate, the difference in treatment outcomes between patients highlights the existence of unexplored pathways that affect the way the organism responds to therapy. Many studies have shown that the microbiome plays a crucial role in cancer risk and progression by mechanisms including inflammatory and immune modulation, genetic instability, microbial translocation, and the production of certain metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids.
Recent findings suggest a potential role for the microbiome not only in cancer development but also in responsiveness to chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments and the occurrence of side effects. Study of this relationship is a real challenge due to its bidirectional nature; while therapeutic drugs can modulate the gut microbiota, at the same time specific strains of microbes in the gut can transform the drug into different metabolites. Experiments using germ-free or antibiotic-treated mice have shown that the microbiota may facilitate efficacy of several treatments for a multitude of cancer subtypes. Also, modulation of gut microbial communities though fecal microbiota transplantation has helped identify the specific strains of bacteria responsible for the outcome and/or side effects of a particular treatment.
The majority of the human microbiota resides in the gut, but other tissues including, but not limited to, lung, breast, and skin, also contain distinct microbial populations, which are also affected by cancer development and treatments. Furthermore, tumours themselves have distinct microbiomes that have been shown to both modulate response to and be affected by treatments. Differences in microbial signatures have been identified in the microbiota between healthy controls and adjacent tumour tissue, pointing to a role for the locally resident microbiota. Moreover, distant metastasis of the primary tumour has been correlated with the specific microbial composition of the patient.
This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding of the interaction between the host microbiome and cancer therapy response, including the occurrence of side effects. We welcome all submissions (original research, reviews, mini-reviews and methodologies) in this background, including but not limited to:
- Gut microbiota and metabolism of drugs used in the treatment of cancer.
- Gut microbiota and immune modulation in response to cancer therapies.
- Modulation of the gut microbiota as part of cancer treatments, such as the use of prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation.
- Non-cancerous tissue microbiota dysbiosis in cancer development and therapeutic responses.
- Tumour microbiota populations and response to therapies
Recent findings suggest a potential role for the microbiome not only in cancer development but also in responsiveness to chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments and the occurrence of side effects. Study of this relationship is a real challenge due to its bidirectional nature; while therapeutic drugs can modulate the gut microbiota, at the same time specific strains of microbes in the gut can transform the drug into different metabolites. Experiments using germ-free or antibiotic-treated mice have shown that the microbiota may facilitate efficacy of several treatments for a multitude of cancer subtypes. Also, modulation of gut microbial communities though fecal microbiota transplantation has helped identify the specific strains of bacteria responsible for the outcome and/or side effects of a particular treatment.
The majority of the human microbiota resides in the gut, but other tissues including, but not limited to, lung, breast, and skin, also contain distinct microbial populations, which are also affected by cancer development and treatments. Furthermore, tumours themselves have distinct microbiomes that have been shown to both modulate response to and be affected by treatments. Differences in microbial signatures have been identified in the microbiota between healthy controls and adjacent tumour tissue, pointing to a role for the locally resident microbiota. Moreover, distant metastasis of the primary tumour has been correlated with the specific microbial composition of the patient.
This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding of the interaction between the host microbiome and cancer therapy response, including the occurrence of side effects. We welcome all submissions (original research, reviews, mini-reviews and methodologies) in this background, including but not limited to:
- Gut microbiota and metabolism of drugs used in the treatment of cancer.
- Gut microbiota and immune modulation in response to cancer therapies.
- Modulation of the gut microbiota as part of cancer treatments, such as the use of prebiotics, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation.
- Non-cancerous tissue microbiota dysbiosis in cancer development and therapeutic responses.
- Tumour microbiota populations and response to therapies
Keywords: Cancer therapies, tumor microbiota, gut microbiota, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, endocrine-targeting therapies.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
