Chemotherapy side effects: the microbiome could be the answer

We discuss how microbiota could represent a resource for the development of new therapies for cancer patients with prof. Nissan Yissachar (Israel).

The gut microbiota impacts on the enteric immune system via the enteric nervous system.

In other words, bacteria “direct” the immune system towards a pro or anti-inflammatory expression and this can affect cancer treatment as a microbiome in a state of dysbiosis due to chemotherapy might contain species capable of altering the intestinal barrier functions. These alterations increase the intestinal permeability, cause inflammation in the intestine and favor mucositis, a very severe and frequent side effect suffered by oncological patients.

The microbiota could therefore represent a resource for the development of new therapies for these patients.

We discuss this subject with Nissan Yissachar, professor at the Bar-Ilan University, in Israel.