Emerging role of microbiota in immunomodulation and cancer immunotherapy

Gut microbiota is emerging as a key modulator of the immune system. Alteration of gut microbiota impacts functioning of the immune system and pathophysiology of several diseases, including cancer. Growing evidence indicates that gut microbiota is not only involved in carcinogenesis but also has an impact on the efficacy and toxicity of cancer therapy. Recently, several pre-clinical and clinical studies across diverse cancer types reported the influence of gut microbiota on the host immune response to immunotherapy. Advancement in our under-standing of the mechanism behind microbiota-mediated modulation of immune response is paramount for their utilization as cancer therapeutics. These microbial therapies in combination with conventional immunothera-peutic methods have the potential to transform the pre-existing treatment strategies to personalized cancer therapy. In this review, we have summarized the current status of research in the field and discussed the role of microbiota as an immune system modulator in context of cancer and their impact on immunotherapy.

Automated summary

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in modulating the immune system and impacting the pathophysiology of diseases like cancer. Research suggests that the gut microbiota can influence both carcinogenesis and the efficacy of cancer therapy, including immunotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms behind microbiota-mediated immune response modulation is essential for utilizing them as cancer therapeutics, potentially transforming current treatment strategies into personalized cancer therapies.