Gut bacteria affect the tumoral immune milieu: distorting the efficacy of immunotherapy or not？

Gut Microbes. 2020 Jul 3;11(4):691-705. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2020.1739794. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Abstract

Immunotherapy using immune-checkpoint inhibitors is revolutionizing oncotherapy. However, the application of immunotherapy may be restricted because of the lack of proper biomarkers in a portion of cancer patients. Recently, emerging evidence has revealed that gut commensal bacteria can impact the therapeutic efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in several cancer models. In addition, testing the composition of gut bacteria provides context for prediction of the efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the impacts of gut commensal bacteria on the tumoral immune milieu, highlighting some typical bacteria and their associations with immunotherapy.

Keywords: Commensal bacteria; gut immunity; immune-checkpoint inhibitor; immunotherapy biomarker; tumor immune milieu.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena*
  • Biomarkers
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Immunity
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Symbiosis

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Grants and funding

This study is mainly supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81874254), and partially by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81773353) and Jilin Scientific and Technological Development Program (Grant No. 20190201204JC).