Mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure, is an aggressive form of cancer with no cure; treatments attempt to improve/expand quality of life. A study published in Nature Communications, found that some gut bacteria influence the body’s ability to fight mesothelioma. Experts believe any available treatments could be enhanced by dietary changes that increase immunotherapy’s success.

“Our work builds on a growing understanding that factors outside of the cancer per se, in this case bacteria, which live with us in the gut, can be critical to the success of immunotherapy. …changing the gut microbiome might improve the odds of patient benefit to immunotherapy. …through specific changes to the diet such as increased fibre intake; something that can be actioned by the patient,” said corresponding author Dean A. Fennell, University of Leicester’s Professor of Thoracic Oncology, fellow of the academy of medical sciences.

Twenty-six patients took part in the study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre and Asthma + Lung UK. They had relapsed mesothelioma, an average age of 68, and received an average of 4.5 cycles of immunotherapy. After 12 weeks, more anti-cancer immune cells in the mesothelioma led to a more positive patient response.

“With mesothelioma treatment seeing only slow progress for several decades, and current treatments not working particularly well, these results will bring real hope to the thousands of people affected by mesothelioma. It’s truly remarkable to discover that something as simple as the food someone eats could have the potential to improve their response to immunotherapy,” stated Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Innovation at Asthma + Lung UK.