Dr. Nassif on Examining Gut Microbial Signatures in the Tumor Microenvironment

Elise Nassif, MD, post-doctoral fellow, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses examining gut microbial signatures in the tumor microenvironment.

It is beneficial to examine unifying signatures of response across cancer types in the gut microbiome, as well as in B cells in tertiary lymphoid structures in the tumor microenvironment, Nassif says. Moreover, clinicians can identify specific microbial signatures in the gut microbiome that affect responses to immune checkpoint blockade and increase the infiltration of B cells in the tumor microenvironment, Nassif explains.

Notably, unifying signatures have been seen across different subgroups and tumor types, Nassif continues. This is important because clinicians can now target the gut microbiome through treatment, Nassif says. Overall, current research regarding the best way to target the gut microbiome to improve responses to immune checkpoint blockade is ongoing, Nassif concludes.