Scientists from the University of Cincinnati have found that gut microbes can affect survival in pancreatic cancer. The research was published in the journal Cancer.
Only 9% of pancreatic cancer patients survive five years after diagnosis, making it one of the deadliest cancers.
Scientists have suggested that bacteria in the gut microbiome may be key to some patients’ survival from pancreatic cancer for so long.
They studied the microbiomes of such people and found several types of bacteria, including: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Scientists believe that their presence in the gut may be associated with an enhanced immune response to the tumor, but this needs to be proven.
The authors noted that this bacterial strain has previously been associated with improved response to immunotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer.
The scientists say they haven’t found a link between a particular diet, lifestyle or genes that could provide insight into how to naturally increase their levels in the microbiome.
Source: Gazeta
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