Intestinal bacteria accelerate cancer immunotherapy

Three types of cancer treatment are commonly surgical treatment, chemotherapy such as anticancer drugs, and radiation therapy, but in recent years "immunotherapy" has been drawing attention as the fourth treatment method. Research has been accelerated as drugs used in immunotherapy have been shown to have great effect by combining with intestinal bacteria. As of 2018 clinical trials are about to be conducted.

How gut microbes are joining the fight against cancer
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05208-8

In the past few decades, many researchers did not think there is a relationship between intestinal bacteria and cancer. However, research published by Lawrence Jitt Vogel et al. At Gustav Roussey Cancer Institute in 2015 will impact many researchers.

Mr. Jitt Vogel et al.T cellsCTLA-4 that sustains the activity ofPD-1Used in immunotherapy such asImmune checkpoint inhibitorThe effect of intestinal bacteria on the effect of mice was experimented. Then, it was shown that mice given bacteria called Bacteriumides / Fragilis responded well to immune checkpoint inhibitors compared to mice that were not given bacteria.

This study has shown the possibility of a new cancer treatment to many researchers, and at the same time it has been a trigger to investigate combinations of intestinal bacteria and drugs that have not yet been discovered. In the same year, Mr. Thomas Gajewsky, a cancer specialist at the University of Chicago, announced a study to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy for bifidobacteria.


Jennifer Wargo, Associate Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Texas State University, saw this research announcement, soon began investigating the flights of skin cancer patients. After that, the research team of Worgo et al. Reported that among patients with cancer treated with immunity checkpoint inhibitors, patients who had effect had diversity of intestinal flora (intestinal flora) Discovery. Then, when entering the "intestinal bacteria of a person who was effective with immunotherapy" in the intestine of a mouse having the same degree of cancer as the patient, "enteric bacteria of ineffective person" was added It was confirmed that the cancer became smaller than the mouse.

In response to Mr. Wargo's research being published in November 2017, in order to confirm whether or not a plurality of research institutions can obtain the same effect not only in mouse experiments but also in humans,Stool microorganism transplantWe are now ready to conduct clinical trials. However, in the past, there was an example that led to weight gain by putting intestinal bacteria inside the body different from its own, and a voice pointed out that "It is not too early to test with humans?" I am going up.


In response to these points, Mr. Wargo strongly feels that it is necessary to enter a clinical trial.Of course, it is necessary to design intestinal bacteria which are put in the body well, but it is necessary to learn from this exam "By raising know-how through clinical trials, we hope to make use of stool microorganism transplantation for actual treatment as soon as possible even in 1 second.