Gut microbiota and immunosenescence in cancer

Aug 10, 2024Seminars in cancer biology

Gut bacteria and aging immune system in cancer

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Longevity & Aging on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is recognized as a hallmark of cancer.

Aging leads to changes in the gut microbiota, resulting in a decline of beneficial microbes.
Alterations in the gut microbiota are linked to systemic metabolic changes that may contribute to immune dysregulation.
Immunosenescence and chronic low-grade inflammation, known as inflammaging, are associated with increased cancer incidence in the elderly.
Understanding age-related changes in gut microbiota and immunity is essential for assessing cancer risk in older adults.
Interventions targeting the gut microbiota could potentially improve immune function and offer antitumor benefits for elderly cancer patients.

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Cancer is generally defined as a disease of aging. With aging, the composition, diversity and functional characteristics of the gut microbiota occur changes, with a decline of beneficial commensal microbes triggered by intrinsic and extrinsic factors (e.g., diet, drugs and chronic health conditions). Nowadays, dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is recognized as a hallmark of cancer. At the same time, aging is accompanied by changes in innate and adaptive immunity, known as immunosenescence, as well as chronic low-grade inflammation, known as inflammaging. The elevated cancer incidence and mortality in the elderly are linked with aging-associated alterations in the gut microbiota that elicit systemic metabolic alterations, leading to immune dysregulation with potentially tumorigenic effects. The gut microbiota and immunosenescence might both affect the response to treatment in cancer patients. In-depth understanding of age-associated alterations in the gut microbiota and immunity will shed light on the risk of cancer development and progression in the elderly. Here, we describe the aging-associated changes of the gut microbiota in cancer, and review the evolving understanding of the gut microbiota-targeted intervention strategies. Furthermore, we summarize the knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of immunosenescence and its impact on cancer. Finally, we discuss the latest knowledge about the relationships between gut microbiota and immunosenescence, with implications for cancer therapy. Intervention strategies targeting the gut microbiota may attenuate inflammaging and rejuvenate immune function to provide antitumor benefits in elderly patients.

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Gut microbiota and immunosenescence in cancer

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