Tokyo: Scientists at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo have identified a type of gut bacteria that may enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy in treating malignant tumours.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the researchers focused on a bacterial strain called Hominenteromicrobium YB328, isolated from the gut microbiome of cancer patients undergoing PD-1 inhibitor treatment. The study found that patients with this bacterium had higher rates of T-cell infiltration into tumours and experienced longer periods without disease progression compared to others.
Experiments on mice showed that injecting YB328 into tumour-bearing mice strengthened their immune response and stimulated T-cells to attack the tumours. In contrast, administering other bacterial strains, such as P. vulgatus, reduced the effectiveness of tumour treatment in laboratory animals.
The researchers suggested that modifying the gut microbiota may represent a new approach in cancer therapy, and that selecting and maintaining beneficial bacteria could improve the efficacy of immunotherapy and broaden patient response.