Onkológia 6/2018
The microbiome and anti-cancer therapy
Human microbiome plays an important role as a modulator of immune system with an impact on development of the disease, its course and treatment. In oncology, research of a field of usage of microbiome is going to foreground, more precisely to increase effectivness of anti-cancer treatment, but also exploitation of characteristics of microorganism alone to eliminate tumor. In oncologic patient it is neccessary to take into consideration changes in composition of microbiome caused by symptomatic treatment, repeated antibiotic usage and the disease itself which interfere function of particular organs. The article is an overview about physiological composition of human microflora with concentration on the most abundant and the most important gut microbiome. It contains also information about colonization of tumor tissue by microorganisms and possible usage of them as vehicles of effective substances. Main part of the theme describes the newest studies about synergic effect of some microorganism species with chemotherapy and immunotherapy examined mostly via animal models. Negative impact of microbiom on degradation of chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil in combination with antiviral treatment Sorivudine in animal models is also mentioned in the article while it is thought that due to this mechanism 18 patients in Japan died. Microbiome, as a complex system of microorganisms, metabolical and immunomodulating interactions, unique in every person, represents difficult field of research, but in the meantime it brings bright prospects on modulation of pathogenesis and treatment of oncologic diseases.
Keywords: microbiome, immune system, anti-cancer treatment
