|
1
|
Bangolo A, Amoozgar B, Habibi M, Simms E, Nagesh VK, Wadhwani S, Wadhwani N, Auda A, Elias D, Mansour C, Abbott R, Jebara N, Zhang L, Gill S, Ahmed K, Ip A, Goy A, Cho C. Exploring the gut microbiome’s influence on cancer-associated anemia: Mechanisms, clinical challenges, and innovative therapies. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther 2025; 16:105375. [DOI: 10.4292/wjgpt.v16.i2.105375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2025] [Revised: 03/19/2025] [Accepted: 03/20/2025] [Indexed: 06/03/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anemia is a prevalent and challenging complication in patients with hematologic and solid malignancies, which stems from the direct effects of malignancy, treatment-induced toxicities, and systemic inflammation. It affects patients’ survival, functional status, and quality of life profoundly. Recent literature has highlighted the emerging role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of cancer-associated anemia. The gut microbiota, through its intricate interplay with iron metabolism, inflammatory pathways, and immune modulation, may either exacerbate or ameliorate anemia depending on its composition, and functional integrity. Dysbiosis, characterized by disruption in the gut microbial ecosystem, is very common in cancer patients. This microbial imbalance is implicated in anemia causation through diminished iron absorption, persistent low-grade inflammation, and suppression of erythropoiesis.
AIM To consolidate current evidence regarding the interplay between gut microbiome and anemia in the setting of malignancies. It aims to provide a detailed exploration of the mechanistic links between dysbiosis and anemia, identifies unique challenges associated with various cancer types, and evaluates the efficacy of microbiome-focused therapies. Through this integrative approach, the review seeks to establish a foundation for innovative clinical strategies aimed at mitigating anemia and improving patient outcomes in oncology.
METHODS A literature search was performed using multiple databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, using a combination of keywords and Boolean operators to refine results. Keywords included “cancer-associated anemia”, “gut microbiome”, “intestinal microbiota”, “iron metabolism”, “gut dysbiosis”, “short-chain fatty acids”, “hematopoiesis”, “probiotics”, “prebiotics”, and “fecal microbiota transplantation”. Articles published in English between 2000 and December 2024 were included, with a focus on contemporary and relevant findings.
RESULTS Therapeutic strategies aimed at restoration of gut microbial homeostasis, such as probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), can inhibit anemia-causing pathways by enhancing microbial diversity, suppressing detrimental flora, reducing systemic inflammation and optimizing nutrient absorption.
CONCLUSION Gut dysbiosis causes anemia and impairs response to chemotherapy in cancer patients. Microbiome-centered interventions, such as probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modifications, and FMT, have shown efficacy in restoring microbial balance, reducing inflammation, and enhancing nutrient bioavailability. Emerging approaches, including engineered probiotics and bacteriophage therapies, are promising precision-based, customizable solutions for various microbiome compositions and imbalances. Future research should focus on integrating microbiome-targeted strategies with established anemia therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayrton Bangolo
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States
| | - Behzad Amoozgar
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States
| | - Maryam Habibi
- Department of Research, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, United States
| | - Elizabeth Simms
- Department of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States
| | - Vignesh K Nagesh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, United States
| | - Shruti Wadhwani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, United States
| | - Nikita Wadhwani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hackensack Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, United States
| | - Auda Auda
- Department of Family Medicine, Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, United States
| | - Daniel Elias
- Department of Internal Medicine, Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, United States
| | - Charlene Mansour
- Department of Internal Medicine, Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen, NJ 07047, United States
| | - Robert Abbott
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
| | - Nisrene Jebara
- Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Lili Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States
| | - Sarvarinder Gill
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States
| | - Kareem Ahmed
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
| | - Andrew Ip
- Division of Lymphoma, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States
| | - Andre Goy
- Division of Lymphoma, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States
| | - Christina Cho
- Division of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Yuan L, Li Y, Chen M, Xue L, Wang J, Ding Y, Gu Q, Zhang J, Zhao H, Xie X, Wu Q. Therapeutic applications of gut microbes in cardiometabolic diseases: current state and perspectives. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:156. [PMID: 38244075 PMCID: PMC10799778 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13007-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) encompasses a range of diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Recent findings about CMD's interaction with gut microbiota have broadened our understanding of how diet and nutrition drive microbes to influence CMD. However, the translation of basic research into the clinic has not been smooth, and dietary nutrition and probiotic supplementation have yet to show significant evidence of the therapeutic benefits of CMD. In addition, the published reviews do not suggest the core microbiota or metabolite classes that influence CMD, and systematically elucidate the causal relationship between host disease phenotypes-microbiome. The aim of this review is to highlight the complex interaction of the gut microbiota and their metabolites with CMD progression and to further centralize and conceptualize the mechanisms of action between microbial and host disease phenotypes. We also discuss the potential of targeting modulations of gut microbes and metabolites as new targets for prevention and treatment of CMD, including the use of emerging technologies such as fecal microbiota transplantation and nanomedicine. KEY POINTS: • To highlight the complex interaction of the gut microbiota and their metabolites with CMD progression and to further centralize and conceptualize the mechanisms of action between microbial and host disease phenotypes. • We also discuss the potential of targeting modulations of gut microbes and metabolites as new targets for prevention and treatment of CMD, including the use of emerging technologies such as FMT and nanomedicine. • Our study provides insight into identification-specific microbiomes and metabolites involved in CMD, and microbial-host changes and physiological factors as disease phenotypes develop, which will help to map the microbiome individually and capture pathogenic mechanisms as a whole.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yuan
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Ying Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Moutong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Liang Xue
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Juan Wang
- College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, College of Science & Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Qihui Gu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Jumei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Xinqiang Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China.
| | - Qingping Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiomics and Precision Application, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China.
| |
Collapse
|