Gut Microbiota-based Therapeutic Interventions in Cancer Treatment

The gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining the digestive system of the human body and in cancer biology. Correlative studies of gut microbiota and cancer are a growing field of research where researchers around the world are exploring options for modulating/restoring gut microbiota in cancer patients. Several groups of bacteria have been observed to be involved in cancer development by promoting tumor formation or sustaining the tumor microenvironment. On the other hand, many of them possess therapeutic potential that can lead to the development of a unique and effective cancer therapy approach, some of which are already in use or are in clinical trials. This review discusses both dietary (prebiotics and probiotics) and non-dietary (fecal microbiota transplantation and phage therapy) methods of gut microbiota modulation or restoration therapeutics to aid in cancer treatment. Recent medical developments in these methods are promising and provide great opportunities for research and application in the real-life scenario, especially at a lower cost than existing chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This review is therefore a step forward in understanding some of these interactions of the gut microbiota in the tumor microenvironment.