The relationship between gut microbiome, immune system, and cancer

Various microbes having been living in our intestine and forming the gut microbiome. When dysbiosis which is typically characterized by reduced microbial diversity occurs, many types of diseases are triggered in our bodies. Recently, relationship between gut microbiome and our immune function are discovered gradually. From this view point, the gut microbiome may have an influence on cancer medicine such as development, therapy (immune checkpoint blockade or chemotherapy), and therapeutic toxicity. In real clinical practice, this influence is reported in some cases such as colorectal cancer and other malignancies. In the near future, the approach from gut microbiome may be a clue to improve the existent cancer diagnosis and therapy. In addition, the modulation of gut microbiome in itself, for example fecal microbiota transplant (FMT), probiotics, and limited usage of antibiotics, is expected to be hints for cancer medicine, though this is not yet established and further studies are needed.