Microbe-host interactions are key for the host. They actively influence intestinal gut homeostasis and immune function as well as host physiology also outside the gastrointestinal tract. However, there is also a risk for adverse effects, in particular following dysbiosis, when the microbiota is altered/disturbed. Indeed, many multifactorial diseases like allergic, autoimmune, metabolic but also neoplastic disorders are nowadays associated with intestinal dysbiosis to different degrees and the connections between microbiota and cancer are now discussed.
Cancer treatments are cytotoxic and affect our commensal microbiota and thereby also alter the microbiota-immune system communication. Nowadays it is further acknowledged that the chemotherapy-microbiota cross talk is bidirectional and that our gut microbiota in turn defines the efficacy and toxicity of several drugs including chemotherapy.
In this novel project, we will investigate how bacteria in the gut microbiota influence the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo – both in murine models and in patients (1).
References
- Saghafian-Hedengren S, Söderström I, Sverremark-Ekström E, Nilsson A. Insights into defective serological memory after acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment: the role of the plasma cell survival niche, memory B-cells and gut microbiota in vaccine responses. Blood Reviews 2017; Aug 26. pii: S0268-960X(17)30051-6. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2017.08.009. [Epub ahead of print] Review.
