The gut microbiome and cancer immunotherapeutics: A review of emerging data and implications for future gynecologic cancer research

Abstract

Investigation of the gynecologic tract microbial milieu has revealed potential new biomarkers. Simultaneously, immunotherapeutics are establishing their place in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. The interplay between the microbiome, the tumor micro-environment and response to therapy is a burgeoning area of interest. There is evidence to support that microbes, through their genetic make-up, gene products, and metabolites affect human physiology, metabolism, immunity, disease susceptibility, response to pharmacotherapy, and the severity of disease-related side effects. Specifically, the richness and diversity of the gut microbiome appears to affect carcinogenesis, response to immunotherapy, and modulate severity of immune-mediated adverse effects. These effects have best been described in other tumor types and these have shown compelling results. This review summarizes the current understanding and scope of the interplay between the human microbiome, host factors, cancer, and response to treatments. These findings support further exploring whether these associations exist for gynecologic malignancies.

Keywords: Chronic illness; Gut microbiome; Gynecologic cancers; Host factors; Immunotherapy; Lifestyle effects; Oncologic outcomes; Therapeutic response.