Nutraceuticals as co-adjuvants in immunotherapy: Enhancing efficacy and personalization

Recent advances in immunotherapy have transformed treatment approaches for cancer and autoimmune diseases. However, many patients continue to experience variable outcomes due to toxicity, immune resistance, or limited efficacy.

In this context, nutraceuticals—bioactive compounds derived from food sources—are emerging as promising co-adjuvants. By modulating immune pathways, these compounds may not only enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic strategies but also reduce adverse effects.

This Research Topic aims to bring together cross-disciplinary research exploring how nutraceuticals can be integrated into immunotherapy.

The goal is to establish a robust foundation of evidence and provide mechanistic insights into their use as adjuncts in the treatment of cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics have demonstrated immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These nutraceuticals interact with immune cells and signaling pathways, potentially enhancing responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, or cytokine-based therapies.

Despite these promising observations, clinical translation remains limited due to challenges in bioavailability, standardization, and clinical validation.

To address these gaps, we seek contributions that advance understanding in the following areas:

- Mechanistic studies of the immunomodulatory effects of specific nutraceuticals

- Preclinical or clinical evaluation of nutraceuticals as adjuncts to immunotherapy

- Strategies to improve bioavailability and delivery of nutraceuticals

- Nutrigenomics and personalized immunonutrition

- Regulatory, translational, and ethical considerations in combining nutraceuticals with immunotherapy

By highlighting these topics, we aspire to stimulate innovative collaborations across immunology, nutrition science, pharmacology, and clinical practice. Ultimately, this Research Topic seeks to support the development of more effective, personalized, and well-tolerated treatment protocols.

We welcome original research, reviews, meta-analyses, and opinion pieces that address these themes. Interdisciplinary submissions are especially encouraged, as we collectively explore the growing synergy between nutrition and immune-based therapies.

Topic Editor Prof. Francesco Sabbatino declares the following conflicts of interest:

1) Patent Number 61/808,517, mgh 22119, combination treatments with sonic hedgehog inhibitors

2) Patent Number : 102024000025665. Biomarker for predicting immune-related adverse events in cancer immunotheraphy, University of Salerno

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: nutraceuticals, immunotherapy, immune modulation, co-adjuvants, personalized medicine, cancer, chronic inflammation, Curcumin, Omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, resveratrol, Co-adjuvant therapy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.