Gut Microbiome Affects Response to Checkpoint Inhibitors

Patients with certain types of cancers are more likely to respond to therapy if their gut microbiomes are diverse.

Immune checkpoint–inhibitor (ICI) drugs (such as pembrolizumab [Keytruda] and nivolumab [Opdivo]) help as many as 40% of patients with melanoma, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), or renal cell carcinoma that is unresponsive to more traditional therapies. During the past 2 years, studies of mice with malignancies have suggested that the composition of the gut microbiome might affect which cancer patients will respond to ICI drugs.

Two multicenter groups now report results from hundreds of human cancer patients (with melanoma and several epithelial tumors) who are being treated with ICI drugs. Having a less-diverse gut bacterial population (i.e., fewer bacterial genes) correlated with poorer response to ICI drugs, after adjustment for confou…

Reviewing Author

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate

Anthony L. Komaroff, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardSerImmune Inc.; DxTerity

Grant / Research SupportNIH (1U54NS105542-01)

Editorial BoardsHarvard Health Letter; UpToDate

Gut Microbiome Affects Response to Checkpoint Inhibitors

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Reviewing Author