Gut Microbiome Emerges as a Potential Partner in Precision Cancer Therapy

BUFFALO, NY – September 28, 2026 – A new #editorial was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on September 23, 2026, titled “Gut feeling: Microbes at the heart of cancer therapy.”
The article examines how the human microbiome may influence cancer development, treatment response and emerging precision-oncology strategies.
The editorial was led by first author Uzma Saqib, with Krishnan Hajela serving as corresponding author. Hajela is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Takshashila Campus, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
The microbiome—the collection of microorganisms living in a particular environment—has increasingly been linked to cancer biology. The gut microbiome can influence inflammation, immune responses and metabolism, while microbial metabolites can affect systemic metabolism, epigenetic processes and immune surveillance. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in microbial communities, has been associated with several cancers. The authors highlight Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer and Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer as examples of microbes associated with tumor-promoting processes.
The microbiome may also affect how patients respond to cancer therapy. The editorial discusses evidence linking favorable gut microbial profiles with responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies. Certain microbial communities may support dendritic-cell maturation, T-cell priming and antitumor immunity, whereas dysbiosis has been associated with treatment resistance. Microbial metabolism can also influence chemotherapy efficacy and gastrointestinal toxicity.
These findings have encouraged investigation of the microbiome as both a therapeutic target and a biomarker. Microbial signatures may potentially help predict responses to immunotherapy, while probiotics, prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation are being explored as ways of modifying treatment response. The authors highlight Akkermansia muciniphila, which has enhanced anti-PD-1 efficacy in preclinical models. These approaches remain investigational and are not established replacements for standard cancer treatments.
Full press release - https://www.oncotarget.com/news/pr/gut-microbiome-emerges-as-a-potential-partner-in-precision-cancer-therapy/
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28919
Correspondence to - Krishnan Hajela - hajelak@gmail.com (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4742-9643)
Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDY6pK5yo-A
Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28919
Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/
Keywords - cancer, gut microbiome, immunomodulation, precision therapeutics, tumor
To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us on social media:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/
X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh
MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM