The gut microbiota's role in cancer is gaining attention for its potential influence on therapy outcomes.
Recent studies suggest that gut microbes may affect cancer progression, treatment response, and chemotherapy side effects. Maastricht University has explored interactions between gut microbiota, cancer cachexia, and chemotherapy through clinical research. Preclinical evidence indicates that gut microbes may impact the efficacy and toxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a common chemotherapy drug, influencing patient prognosis.
Recognizing this potential, Maastricht University and Danone Research & Innovation formed a partnership to investigate gut microbiota modulation with prebiotic fibers during chemotherapy. They studied chemotherapy-induced gut microbiota changes in vitro and tested different prebiotic fiber mixtures for their ability to positively influence gut microbiota in the presence of 5-FU. Building on these results, they will launch a clinical intervention study to assess the effects of prebiotic fibers in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, aiming to support gut health and improve patient outcomes during chemotherapy.
