Over the years, the researchers have investigated the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, and one particular factor they have found is the gut bacteria.
The immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins that protects the body from infection and other diseases. Some cells of the immune system can recognize cancer cells and some treatments aim to use the immune system to fight cancer. Now, the researchers have found a new and promising way to combat cancerous tumors. The system keeps records of every microbe so that it can quickly detect and destroy germs upon entering the body. There is strong evidence that gut bacteria can affect anti-tumor immunity and the new research explains how gut bacteria help the immune system to fight cancerous tumors.
The new research may explain why cancer immunotherapy works in some cases, however, not others. The team suggests that combining specific microbial therapies with immunotherapy increases the immune system's ability to diagnose and attack cancer cells in bladder, colorectal, and melanomas cancers. Over the years, the researchers have investigated which variables may affect the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, and one particular factor they have found is the gut bacteria.
Moreover, there is strong evidence that gut bacteria can affect anti-tumor immunity and increase the efficacy of immunotherapy in treating some cancers. However, how they do this remained elusive. First, the team found certain species of bacteria that were linked to colorectal cancer tumors when treated with immunotherapy. The research revealed that specific bacteria are required for immunotherapy to work. The team then validated the results in both melanoma and bladder cancer. Moreover, three beneficial bacteria in cancers in humans that are linked to the tumors in mice. The next step is to study the finding in humans. The research was published in the Science journal.