Gut microbiota and the immune battlefield of cancer

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Gut microbiota significantly influences cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic response by modulating the tumor microenvironment and immune system, and microbiome-targeted strategies can potentially improve immunotherapy outcomes. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Xinlin Wang; Kui Zhong; Xiao Huang; Dingcheng Zeng; Xin He

doi:10.1038/s41698-026-01684-8

September 2, 2026npj Precision OncologyOpen Access

Gut microbiota and the immune battlefield of cancer

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Key Points

To review the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influences cancer development, immune evasion, and response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, alongside potential microbiome-modulating interventions.
Synthesized evidence detailing microbial interactions with innate and adaptive immunity across cancer initiation and progression.
Evaluated molecular mechanisms including microbial metabolites, pattern-recognition receptor signaling, epigenetic reprogramming, and extracellular vesicles.
Examined therapeutic microbiome-targeted approaches, including fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, and dietary interventions.
Dysbiosis alters the tumor microenvironment through metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming, pattern-recognition receptor signaling, and intratumoral bacterial colonization.
Specific gut microbiota profiles dictate responsiveness and resistance patterns during immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.
Interventions such as fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotic supplementation, and targeted dietary regimens can favorably remodel the microbiome to enhance anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy.

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Implication

Narrative review uncovers gut microbiota mechanisms regulating cancer immunity and therapy response, highlighting microbial interventions to improve immunotherapy outcomes.

Abstract

Gut microbiota shapes cancer initiation, progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic response. Dysbiosis remodels the tumor microenvironment through innate and adaptive immune regulation, microbial metabolites, pattern-recognition receptor signaling, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming, extracellular vesicles, and intratumoral microbes. This review summarizes microbiota–immune interactions in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and discusses microbiome-targeted strategies, including fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, and diet, to improve immunotherapy outcomes.

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Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd3a66b95aff0620eadd9 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-026-01684-8

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Gut microbiota and the immune battlefield of cancer

Key Points

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Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Gut microbiota and the immune battlefield of cancer

Key Points

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Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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