Harnessing the Microbiome to Treat Melanoma: Can It Work?
Source: Medscape, April 2025
ATHENS, Greece — Two strategies under investigation suggest that manipulating the gut microbiome could improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients with melanoma, according to new research presented at the 11th World Congress of Melanoma (WCM) and 21st EADO Congress 2025.
The first strategy involves designing a live biotherapeutic product that mimics the gut bacterial composition of stool from a super donor — in this case, a cancer patient who had achieved a complete response to immunotherapy. This stool could then be administered using this product to nonresponders to help them overcome resistance to treatment.
The second strategy involves exploring whether a high-fiber diet in patients with melanoma can alter the gut microbiome and enhance patients’ responses to immunotherapy.