Longevity & AgingYour Gut Microbiome Could Make or Break Cancer Treatment
This comprehensive 2026 review in Nature Reviews Microbiology synthesizes evidence showing the gut microbiome acts as a critical regulator of cancer development and treatment outcomes. Microbial communities influence carcinogenesis through genotoxin production, chronic inflammation, epigenetic reprogramming, and gut barrier disruption. They also modulate cancer therapy by metabolizing drugs like 5-FU, gemcitabine, and irinotecan — either inactivating or reactivating them — and by shaping immune responses to checkpoint inhibitors. Microbiome-targeted interventions including FMT, diet, prebiotics, probiotics, and engineered bacteria are emerging as adjunct cancer therapies. The authors argue the microbiome should be integrated into oncology as a prognostic biomarker, therapeutic target, and personalized intervention point.
