Dietary factors tied to melanoma-immunotherapy response

Source: MDLinx, March 2019

In a small study of melanoma patients, a high-fiber diet was associated with higher gut microbiome diversity and better response to immunotherapy, while probiotic therapy had the opposite effect.

“There’s a perception that taking probiotics improves gut health, but our results, although early, suggest that may not be the case for cancer patients," Dr. Christine Spencer, of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy in San Francisco, CA, said in a news release.

She presented her research at a preview media briefing February 27 ahead of presentation at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting.