Harnessing the Microbiome for Pancreatic Cancer Immunotherapy

Abstract

Late-stage pancreatic cancer harbors a fibrotic and immune-excluded tumor microenvironment that impedes immunotherapy success. A key to unlocking pancreatic cancer immunotherapy may be treating early-stage pancreatic cancer, when peripancreatic inflammation promoted by the microbiome potentiates oncogenic signaling and suppresses innate and adaptive immunity. Hence, understanding the role of microbiota in pancreatic cancer initiation, progression, and immunosuppression is crucial. We propose that not only are microbiota targets for immunomodulation in this disease, but also that microbiome profiling has a potential role in pancreatic cancer screening. Furthermore, combining microbiome profiling with liquid and tissue biopsy may validate the early pancreatic cancer treatment approach of microbiome modulation and immunotherapy.

Keywords: immunotherapy; liquid biopsy; microbiome; microbiome profiling; pancreatic cancer.