From fecal microbiota transplants to targeted intervention for improvement of immune checkpoint inhibition therapy: how far down the road are we?
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The outcome of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) therapy of cancer appears to be influenced by the gut microbiota composition of the patient. Microbiome-based therapy by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) appears to improve the outcome of ICI therapy. The ideal composition of the microbiota as well as treatment schedule are not yet established. AREAS COVERED: The most recently published studies are reviewed, as well as the study designs of registered clinical trials which are ongoing. The effect of pretreatment of patients with antibiotics, aimed to improve engraftment of the transplant, is evaluated. EXPERT OPINION: The optimal treatment schedule would be to start with FMT, followed by ICI, implying FMT should be given to ICI naive patients. Rather than donor derived FMT, defined consortia of microbiota could be preferred.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
Gut microbiota and health
Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 809–816
- Publication date
- 23 January 2026
- Language
- EN