Gut microbes predict survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, study finds

The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the PD-1-PD-L1 interaction has transformed the treatment landscape for patients with advanced NSCLC1

It has been shown that the composition of the gut microbiota has biological significance in influencing peripheral immune tension and the effectiveness of ICIs in cancer patients, and that the gut microbiota may contribute to the immunostimulatory mode of action of ICIs16

Recently, a research paper titled "Intestinal Akkermansia muciniphila predicts clinical response to PD-1 blockade in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer" published in Nat Med found that Akk could predict 12 Monthly Survival Rate!

In the present study, we prospectively validated the predictive value of fecal Akk using metagenomics-based microbiome analysis in 338 patients with advanced NSCLC treated with first- or second-line ICIs

Akk in feces is associated with clinical benefit of ICI

This study proposes that the relative abundance of Akk can serve as a reliable biomarker for the prognosis of PD-1-blocking immunotherapy patients

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Reference: Derosa, L.