Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Oct 6, 2024; 12(28): 6159-6164
Published online Oct 6, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i28.6159
Hidden army within: Harnessing the microbiome to improve cancer treatment outcomes
Ippokratis Messaritakis, Georgios Vougiouklakis, Asimina Koulouridi, Aris P Agouridis, Nikolaos Spernovasilis
Ippokratis Messaritakis, Department of Microbiology, German Oncology Center & Yiannoukas Labs LTD, Bioiatriki Group, Limassol 4108, Cyprus
Georgios Vougiouklakis, Aris P Agouridis, Department of Internal Medicine, German Oncology Center, Limassol 4108, Cyprus
Asimina Koulouridi, Department of Oncology, German Oncology Center, Limassol 4108, Cyprus
Aris P Agouridis, School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
Nikolaos Spernovasilis, Department of Infectious Diseases, German Oncology Center, Limassol 4108, Cyprus
Author contributions: Messaritakis I, Vougiouklakis G, Koulouridi A, Agouridis AP, and Spernovasilis N contributed to this paper; Messaritakis I and Koulouridi A designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Spernovasilis N contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; Messaritakis I and Vougiouklakis G contributed to the writing and review of literature; Koulouridi A, Agouridis AP, and Spernovasilis N contributed to editing the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: Https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Nikolaos Spernovasilis, BSc, MD, MSc, PhD, Director, Department of Infectious Diseases, German Oncology Center, Nikis 1, Limassol 4108, Cyprus. nikspe@hotmail.com
Received: May 14, 2024
Revised: June 6, 2024
Accepted: June 24, 2024
Published online: October 6, 2024
Processing time: 90 Days and 10.6 Hours
Abstract

The gut microbiome has emerged as a critical player in cancer pathogenesis and treatment response. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbial community, impacts tumor initiation, progression, and therapy outcomes. Specific bacterial species have been associated with either promoting or inhibiting tumor growth, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention. The gut microbiome influences the efficacy and toxicity of conventional treatments and cutting-edge immunotherapies, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in cancer care. However, translating microbiome research into clinical practice requires addressing challenges such as standardizing methodologies, validating microbial biomarkers, and ensuring ethical considerations. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the gut microbiome's role in cancer highlighting the need for ongoing research, collaboration, and innovation to harness its full potential for improving patient outcomes in oncology. The current editorial aims to explore these insights and emphasizes the need for standardized methodologies, validation of microbial biomarkers, and interdisciplinary collaboration to translate microbiome research into clinical applications. Furthermore, it underscores ethical considerations and regulatory challenges surrounding the use of microbiome-based therapies. Together, this article advocates for ongoing research, collaboration, and innovation to realize the full potential of microbiome-guided oncology in improving patient care and outcomes.

Keywords: Gut microbiome, Cancer treatment, Immunotherapy, Microbiome-based interventions, Dysbiosis, Precision oncology

Core Tip: Understanding the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and cancer treatment outcomes is pivotal in modern oncology. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbial communities, significantly influences tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapy. Harnessing the microbiome's potential offers novel avenues for personalized cancer care, including optimizing treatment strategies and enhancing immunotherapy efficacy. Multidisciplinary collaboration, standardized methodologies for microbiome profiling, and the development of microbial biomarkers are essential for translating microbiome research into clinical practice. Ethical considerations and regulatory oversight are paramount in ensuring equitable access to emerging microbiome-based interventions while promoting transparency and education among healthcare professionals and the public.