Evaluating the Role of the Gut Microbiome to Bolster Immunotherapy Response in Melanoma

Source: Targeted Oncology, November 2018

A new area of research in the treatment landscape of melanoma focuses on manipulating the gut microbiome to improve immunotherapy responses, particularly with anti–PD-1 and anti–CTLA-4 antibodies.

Based on data seen in several mouse studies in Chicago and France, it is suggested that altering the microbiome may be necessary to promote responses to checkpoint inhibition. While the data are still new, several groups are looking at ways to further investigate this idea in different patient populations.

While this approach is being evaluated in non­–small cell lung cancer and renal cancers, a group at the University of Pittsburgh, led by Hassane M. Zarour, MD, has designed a trial involving a subset of patients with melanoma. In the trial, patients will undergo a fecal microbiota transplant.