Potential mechanisms and targeting strategies of the gut microbiota in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Maeve

Immunotherapies, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, have reshaped treatment for advanced and metastatic cancers. This review examines molecular mechanisms by which gut microbiota influence antitumor immunity and immunotherapy efficacy. It summarizes recent evidence linking gut microbiota, immune activity, and cancer immunotherapy, and discusses therapeutic approaches that modulate the gut microbiome to improve response. The analysis highlights key mechanisms including immunomodulation, molecular mimicry, and microbial metabolites.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

1 | Introduction

2 | The Gut Barrier and Gut Microbiota

DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1263 REV I EW ARTICLE Potential mechanisms and targeting strategies of the gut microbiota in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy Qian Yin1 | Jiao‐jiao Ni2 | Jie‐er Ying2 1Postgraduate Training Base Alliance of Wenzhou Medical University (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China 2Department of Hepato‐Pancreato‐Biliary & Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China Correspondence Jie‐er Ying, Department of Hepato‐ Pancreato‐Biliary & Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 310022 Hangzhou, China. Email: [jieerying@aliyun.com](jieerying@aliyun.com) Funding information Zhejiang Anti‐Cancer Association‐Qilu Clinical Research, Grant/Award Number: zjskaxhqllckyxm202208; Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Numbers: LQ23H160009, LTGY23H160010; Special Research Support for Post‐ marketing Clinical Research of Innovative Drugs, Grant/Award Number: WKZX2023CX030001; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Grant/Award Number: 2022M723205 Abstract Background: Immunotherapies, notably immune checkpoints inhibitors that target programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1(PD‐1/PD‐L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated antigen 4 (CTLA‐4), had profoundly changed the way advanced and metastatic cancers are treated and dramatically improved overall and progression‐free survival. Aims: This review article aimed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms by which the gut microbiota affects antitumor immunity and the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Methods: We summarized the latest knowledge supporting the associations among the gut microbiota, antitumor immunity, and immunotherapy. Moreover, we disscussed the therapeutic strategy for improving immunotherapy efficacy by modulating gut microbiota in cancer treatment. Results: The potential molecular mechanisms underlying these associations are explained in terms of four aspects: immunomodulation, molecular mimicry, mamps, and microbial metabolites. Conclusion: The gut microbiota significantly impacts antitumor immunity and alters the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. KEYW OR DS antitumor immunity, cancer, cancer therapy, gut microbiota, immunotherapy 1 | INTRODUCTION In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the impact of the gut microbiota on host health and disease. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in regulating human physiology in various ways, and a multidimensional network of functions among the gut microbiota, the immune system, metabolism, and cancer has been identified.1–3 A large body of evidence indicates that the gut microbiota modulates the immune system, which has resulted in studies on the effect of cancer immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) .4–8 The host immune system consists of both innate immunity and adaptive immunity components. The skin, gut, and lung linings, stomach acids, intestinal bacteria, and leukocytes (neutrophils) are involved in innate immunity that can detect and kill pathogens instantly. Immune protection that is “learned” is called adaptive immunity. Whenever the immune system is exposed to a disease, a type of bacterium, fungus, or virus This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2024 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Immun Inflamm Dis. 2024;12:e1263 . [https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.1263](https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.1263) [wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/iid3](wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/iid3) 1 of 13 for the first time, antibodies are produced so that the immune system responds faster and better the next time. ICIs release the immune brake response and inhibit tumor immune escape effectively by targeting lymphocyte activation gene‐3 (LAG3),

FAQs

Which immunotherapy targets are highlighted in the article’s background?

The background focuses on immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, describing their impact on survival outcomes in advanced and metastatic cancers.

What is the review article’s main aim?

The review aims to explore the molecular mechanisms through which the gut microbiota affects antitumor immunity and the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

What mechanisms are discussed as potential molecular explanations for the gut microbiota’s effects?

The article explains potential molecular mechanisms across four aspects: immunomodulation, molecular mimicry, mamps, and microbial metabolites.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Maeve