Small but Mighty: Selected Commensal Bacterial Species Determine the Effectiveness of Anti-cancer Immunotherapies

Commensal microorganisms influence malignant progression by altering systemic inflammation. New data from two groups (Vétizou et al., 2015; Sivan et al., 2015) indicate that the abundance of specific commensal bacterial species enhances the anti-cancer activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Commensal microorganisms influence malignant progression by altering systemic inflammation. New data from two groups (Vétizou et al., 2015; Sivan et al., 2015) indicate that the abundance of specific commensal bacterial species enhances the anti-cancer activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors.