Changing gut bacteria to help cancer immunotherapy work better when it faces resistance

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may face resistance in a significant portion of patients, prompting exploration into gut microbiota as a therapeutic strategy.

• A notable number of patients exhibit either primary or acquired resistance to therapies targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1.
• Current research highlights the potential of gut microbiota to enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade therapies.
• Preclinical models and standardized microbiome analysis are being used to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and immune responses to ICIs.
• Multi-omic approaches are advancing the understanding of how gut microbiota interacts with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• Traditional Chinese medicine may serve as a microbiome modulator, potentially increasing sensitivity to immune checkpoint therapies.

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