Microbiome-Based Therapeutics for the Management of Cancer

Cancer stands as a prevalent global cause of mortality, with its evolving pattern raising serious concerns. Despite the accessibility of surgical operations, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies for cancer treatment, many patients encounter issues such as drug resistance, disease recurrence, and unpleasant side effects. The interest in biopharmaceuticals has grown due to their limited off-target side effects. Reports suggest that the host gut microbiota significantly influences the effectiveness of anticancer medications and the emergence of chemotherapy resistance. The gut microbiome indirectly impacts the immune system, orchestrating responses to tumor-operator mutations. This chapter delves into the role of changes in the gut microbiome signature in carcinogenesis and cancer treatment. We comprehensively review the mechanisms supporting cancer therapy and the involvement of gut microbiota in achieving cancer cure. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for additional pre-clinical or early clinical research on prebiotics and probiotics to enhance awareness regarding the potential of microbiome-based medicines for cancer treatment.