The gut microbiota is becoming increasingly recognized as a vital influence on various health conditions, extending its impact beyond the gastrointestinal system. Recent research highlights its significant involvement in tumor initiation and progression, as well as its influence on therapeutic responses. By interacting with the host immune system, gut microbes can modify inflammatory responses, affect metabolic activities, and alter signaling pathways, thereby impacting the tumor microenvironment. These microorganisms generate metabolites that can have either tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressing effects, with their composition often changing in cancerous conditions.
Advances in multi-omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics enable a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between the gut microbiota, host cells, and tumor biology. These technologies offer insights into how microbial communities influence immune responses, how tumors adapt to microbial signals, and how therapy can potentially leverage these interactions for enhanced outcomes. The gut microbiota's ability to affect immune cell differentiation and function, including T cells and macrophages, and its role in tumor immune evasion highlight its significance in immunotherapeutic strategies. Variations in gut microbial composition have even been linked to differences in treatment efficacy and side effects.
This Research Topic aims to address the crucial gaps in understanding the gut microbiota's role in tumor development and therapy response. By gathering insights from recent multi-omics research and mechanistic studies, we aim to elucidate how specific microbial compositions and their metabolites shape immune pathways in the tumor microenvironment. Our goal is to inform the development of microbiome-targeted strategies, from precision probiotics to optimized therapeutic regimens, thereby improving cancer treatment outcomes while minimizing adverse effects.
To gather further insights into the intersection of gut microbiota and cancer therapy, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Molecular and cellular mechanisms behind microbiota-induced tumorigenesis and immune modulation.
o The impact of microbial compositions on tumor immune escape and immunotherapy response.
o Innovative interventions targeting the gut microbiota to enhance immunotherapy or reduce toxicity.
o Utilizing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to decipher microbe-host tissue interactions.
o Examining probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and other microbiota-based therapies to bolster antitumor immunity.

Topic Editor Diogo Alpuim Costa received Research grant (microbiota and breast cancer fields): AstraZeneca, Laboratório Germano de Sousa e Grupo CUF. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject

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Gut microbiota: Shaping tumor immunity and therapeutic responses