Background
Key term | Definition |
---|---|
ARE | Gastrointestinal symptoms that occur within 12 weeks of abdominopelvic radiotherapy in cancer patients, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, etc. Featured by progressive cell impairment and inflammation, the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium is the major target and thus symptoms are reversible and short-lasting |
CRE | Gastrointestinal symptoms that occur after 12 weeks until years after abdominopelvic radiotherapy in cancer patients, including dysmotility, malabsorption, strictures, perforation and bleeding, etc. Featured by mucosal atrophy, vascular sclerosis and progressive fibrosis, the slowly renewing intestinal parenchymal wall is involved, and thus symptoms are usually irreversible |
Gut microbiota | Microorganisms habituating in the gastrointestinal tract of host, including bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses, with broad impacts on metabolism and pathophysiology of host |
MT | The transfer of microbial content from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a diseased recipient, and can be classified into faecal MT, oral MT, selective MT according to the sources |
Probiotic | Live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, beneficially affect the host by direct bacterial-host interactions or derived metabolites |
Prebiotic | Nondigestible ingredients e.g., fibers, that reach the colon and promote growth of specific colonic bacteria to beneficially improve host health |
Synbiotic | Combination of probiotics and prebiotics and are believed to be more efficient in conferring health benefits |
Preclinical evidence links the gut microbiota to radiation injury
Causal linkage established from deprivation, supplementation and interventional assays
References | Animal model | Key techniques | Major endpoints | Conclusions and highlights |
---|---|---|---|---|
Onoue, Japan, [16] | ICR mice, M, n = 10–42/group | TBI: 20 Gy Oral administration of single strain | Survival; histopathology of multiple organs | The first study distinguishing beneficial microorganisms from harmful ones based on the observation of radio-resistance in germ-free mice |
Crawford And Gordon, US, [4] | FVB/N, B6 mice, M/F, n = 3–27/group | TBI: 10–22 Gy Bacteria culture | Survival; histopathology of intestine | The radio-protective fasting-induced adipose factor is suppressed by the gut microbiota although the specific microbe(s) responsible were not identified |
Lam, US, [19] | Wistar rats, M, n = 5/group | TBI: 10, 18 Gy/6Fx Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | NA | The first study establishing microbiota-based acute and chronic ratios as effective biomarkers of prior radiation exposure |
Fan, China, [7] | B6 mice, M, n = 3–10/group | TAI: 5 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival | Circadian rhythm disorder interacts with gut microbiota to augment radiation injury |
Fan, China, [5] | B6 mice, M/F, n = 4–18/group | TBI: 6.5 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + intestine for RNA sequencing | Survival; histopathology of intestine + circulating blood cell counting + spleen weight | Faecal microbiota transplantation is radio-protective without accelerating tumor growth |
Fan, China, [13] | B6 mice, M, n = 4–20/group | TAI: 15 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + intestine for microRNA assay | Survival; histopathology of intestine + circulating blood cell counting | Radio-protective hydrogen-water restores radiation-induced gut dysbiosis |
Gerassy, Israel, [17] | B6 mice, F, n = 8–33/group Germ-free Swiss Webster mice† for faecal MT assay | Rectum brachytherapy: 22 Gy/4Fx Feaces and colonic tissues for 16S rRNA sequencing + cytokine analysis | Survival; histopathology of intestine | The pro-inflammatory dysbiosis induced by radiation is transmissible via faecal microbiota transplantation and renders radio-sensitivity to intestine |
Tian, China, [22] | SD ratsa, n = 30/group | TBI: 0,4,8,12 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival; histopathology of intestine | The first study showing the dose-dependent microbiota features in association with radiation injury in rodent models |
Carbonero, US, [21] | Gottingen minipig, M, n = 7–13/group Chinese rhesus macaques, M, n = 12–16/group | TBI: 1.65–2.25 Gy for minipig; 5.9–7.7 Gy for macaque Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival | The first study showing the dose-dependent microbiota features in association with post-radiation survival in large primate models |
Kweon, Korea, [55] | B6, ICR mice, M/F, n = 3–5/group | TBI: 10 Gy or 12 Gy Gavage with lactate-producing microbes or conditioned medium or lactate + intestine for lactate measurement | Survival; histopathology of intestine + organoid measurement | Probiotics-derived lactate imposes intestinal radio-protection by activating Wnt/β-catenin in intestinal stem cells to accelerate epithelial repairment |
B6b, BALB/ca, n = 4–10/group | TBI: 12 Gy, TAI: 28-32 Gy/7-8Fx Gavage with live or heat-killed Lactobacillus or Lactobacillus-conditioned medium Luminal microbial analysis using qPCR | Survival; histopathology of intestine + circulating lymphocyte & hematopoietic stem cell counting | Lactobacillus-derived lipoteichoic acid imposes intestinal radio-protection without compromising anticancer efficacy by activating EGF pathway in intestinal stem cells | |
Fan, China, [11] | B6 mice, M, n = 3–10/group | TAI: 15 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival; histopathology of intestine + circulating blood cell & bone marrow cell counting | Radio-protective 3,3’-diindolylmethane restores radiation-induced gut dysbiosis |
Li, China, [12] | B6 mice, M, n = 3–15/group | TBI: 9 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + intestine for RNA sequencing | Survival; histopathology of intestine + organoid culture | Radio-protective VND3207 restores radiation-induced gut dysbiosis |
Fan, China, [9] | B6 mice M/F, n = 5–24/group | TBI: 7 Gy for survival; 4 Gy for hematopoietic toxicity; TAI: 12 Gy for gastrointestinal toxicity; Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + intestine for RNA sequencing | Survival; histopathology of intestine + spleen & thymus weight and blood inflammatory markers | Simvastatin and high-fat diet is radio-protective in male and female mice respectively, which relies on the existence of the sex-specific gut microbiota |
Fan, China, [8] | B6 mice M, n = 12/group | TAI: 12-15 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing & SCFA quantification (LC) | Survival; histopathology of intestine | Polysorbate-80 aggravates acute RE by altering the gut microbiota and decreasing butyrate level; post-radiation administration of butyrate reverses the effects of polysorbate-80 |
Fan, China, [42] | B6 mice, M/F, n = 3–12/group | TBI: 4-7 Gy; TAI: 12-15 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing & SCFA quantification (LC) + intestine for peptide quantification (MS) | Survival; histopathology of intestine + spleen & thymus weight and blood inflammatory markers | Microbiota-derived valerate alleviates radiation injury by up-regulating AML1/KRT1 which is down-regulated after radiation and is radio-protective |
Fan, China, [43] | B6 mice & Balb/c nude mice, M/F, n = 6–30/group | TBI: 7.2 Gy for survival; 4 Gy for hematopoietic toxicity; TAI: 12 Gy for gastrointestinal toxicity; Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing & untargeted metabolomics (LC/MS) + intestine for peptide quantification (MS) | Survival; histopathology of intestine + spleen & thymus weight and blood inflammatory markers | Microbiota-derived IPA alleviates radiation injury by re-activating the PXR-ACBP pathway without compromising anticancer efficacy |
Guo, US, [47] | B6 mice, M/F, n = 4–33/group | TBI: 8.0–9.2 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing & SCFA quantification (GC) & untargeted metabolomics (LC) | Survival; histopathology of intestines, spleen & bone marrow | Microbiota-derived SCFAs and tryptophan metabolites confer hematopoietic and gastrointestinal radio-protection without compromising anticancer efficacy |
Tian, China, [20] | B6 mice, M, n = 5–10/group | TBI: 0,4,8,12 Gy for dose-dependent assay and 9 Gy for probiotic assay; Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival; histopathology of intestine | A longitudinal study demonstrating that microbial quantifications at day3.5 after radiotherapy provide biomarkers for radio-dosimetry and radiation injury |
Fan, China, [14] | B6 mice, M, n = 5–8/group | Total chest irradiation: 15 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + LC/MS | Body weight, histopathology of lung and heart | Radio-protection of L-Histidine relies on the existence of the gut microbiota |
Fan, China, [10] | B6 mice M/F, n = /group | TBI: 5 Gy; TAI: 12 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival; histopathology of intestine + circulating blood cell counting | Radio-protection of caloric-restriction diet relies on the existence of the gut microbiota |
Kweon, Korea, [63] | B6, F, n = 3–5/group | TBI: 10 Gy Gavage with Akkermansia or conditioned medium + Cecal contents for SCFA quantification (LC/MS) | Survival; histopathology of intestine + organoid measurement | Akkermansia-derived SCFAs impose intestinal radio-protection by activating Wnt/β-catenin in intestinal stem cells to promote proliferation and differentiation |
Epperly, US, [23] | B6, BALB/c, sv129 mice, M, n = 10–20/group | TBI: 9.25 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing and qPCR validation | Survival | Akkermansia muciniphila improves post-radiation survival in TBI mice |
Epperly, US, [24] | B6 mice, F, n = 12/group | TBI: 9.25 Gy; TAI: 19.75 Gy; Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival; inflammatory protein expression + bone marrow cells counting | Engineered IL-22- producing microbe ameliorates radiation injury |
Epperly, US, [25] | B6 mice, M, n = 10–15/group | TBI: 9.25 Gy Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | Survival | Inclusion of microbiota information improves the predictability of survival when controlling for administration of radiation mitigators |
Dar, US, [52] | B6 mice, F, n = 3–5/group | TBI: 9.25 Gy Feaces for bacterium counting + intestine for lipidomics (LC/MS) | Survival; histopathology of intestine | Pseudomonas aeruginosa-derived 15-lipoxygenase increases lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis, thereby exacerbating local inflammation and radiation injury |
Reinforced predictive and prognostic value by microbial dynamics during radiation
Bench to bedside: harnessing the gut microbiota to screen out high-risk patients
Gynecological cancer
Prostatecancer
Anorectalcancer
References | Study population | Major techniques | Endpoints | Highlights and Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Manichanh, Spain, [29] | Gynecological (n = 6) or rectal cancer (n = 4) patients | Feaces for 16S rRNA DGGE + 16S rRNA sequencing | ARE (CTCAE) | The first study using 16S rRNA analysis in clinical cohorts to reveal: a) microbiota perturbations in patients with diarrhea is more drastic throughout radiotherapy; b) baseline microbiota features are distinguishable between diarrhea vs. no-diarrhea |
Wang, China, [28] | Cervical (n = 8), colorectal (n = 2) and anal (n = 1) cancer patients | Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + blood for inflammatory markers assay | ARE (CTCAE) | The first study describing pre-treatment microbiota features predictive of acute diarrhea, including lower SDI and higher Firmicute/Bacteroides ratio |
Wang, China, [30] | Stage II-IV cervical cancer patients (n = 18) | Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + coculture of colonic epithelium with faecal bacteria + blood for inflammatory marker assay | ARE (RTOG) | Baseline Coprococcus is enriched and microbial diversity is declined (including SDI) in patients predisposing to ARE; coculture assay demonstrated that dysbiotic microbiota from patients with severe ARE induces barrier impairment and pro-inflammatory response |
Colbert, US, [31] | Stage I-IV cervical cancer patients (n = 35) | Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | ARE (bowel part of EPIC questionnaire, patient-reported) | High SDI independently predicts better near-term gastrointestinal function; Clostridiales is enriched in milder ARE and Sutterella in severe ARE patients |
Colbert, US, [32] | Cervical, vaginal and anal cancer patients (n = 59) | Rectal swabs for 16S rRNA sequencing | CRE (RTOG and CTCAE) | Baseline Sutterella is underrepresented in CRE patients |
Cai, China, [33] | Stage I-III cervical (n = 16) and endometrial (n = 1) cancer patients | Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing + LC–MS | ARE (RTOG) | The first integrative multi-omics translational study constructing prediction model for ARE, using abundances of Erysipelatoclostridium and its downstream metabolite, ptilosteroid A |
Ferreira, UK, [34] | Prostate cancer, early cohort (n = 32); late cohort (n = 87); coloscopy cohort (n = 15) | Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | ARE; CRE (clinician-reported: RTOG, LENT/SOM, UCLA-PCI outcomes; patient-reported: modified QoL questionnaire) | The first study reporting how gut microbiota affects CRE and emphasizing on SCFA metabolism by integration with inferred metagenomic analysis. Non-significant trend towards higher Sutterella exists in acute symptomatic patients |
Ferreira, UK, [45] | Prostate cancer patients (n = 32) | Feaces, urine and plasma for NMR + LC–MS | CRE (patient-reported: modified QoL questionnaire) | The first study reporting microbiota-related metabolite profile associated with CRE, reinforcing the significance of SCFA in toxicity amelioration |
Zhang, China, [35] | Stage I-III rectal cancer patients (n = 22) | Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | ARE (CTCAE) | Clostridia, Bifidobacterium and primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway are enriched in low toxicity patients |
Zhang, China, [36] | Stage I-III rectal cancer patients (n = 84) | Feaces for 16S rRNA sequencing | ARE; myelosuppression (both per CTCAE) | The first study on both myelosuppression and ARE and accordingly constructing two robust prediction models. Baseline Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium and Coprococcus are enriched in low toxicity patients whereas β-glucuronidase-producing and pro-diarrhea Escherichia enriched in high toxicity patients |
Colbert, US, [37] | Stage I-IV anal squamous cell cancer patients (n = 22) | Anorectal swabs at tumor site for 16S rRNA sequencing | ARE (bowel part of EPIC questionnaire); acute anal dermatitis (CTCAE) | The first pilot study focusing on both ARE and anal dermatitis |
Mechanistic investigations on microbiota-host interactions in radiation injury
Biological functions inferred by integration with metabolomics
SCFAs and indole compounds
Metabolism dysregulation in BAs and lipids
Lactobacillus spp.
Akkermansia muciniphila
Cross-connections and comments for other microbes
References | Keystone microorganism(s) | Functional constituents | Classification | Mechanism summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fan, China, [8] | NA | Butyrate | SCFA | Enhances barrier integrity and suppresses inflammation by activating GPR41/43 thereby ameliorating intestinal injury |
Fan, China, [42] | NA | Valerate | SCFA | Enhances barrier integrity by re-elevating the post-radiation decline of cytoskeleton component KRT1, and constraints oxidative and inflammatory responses thereby ameliorating post-radiation hematopoietic and intestinal injury |
Guo, US, [47] | Lachnospiraceae | Propionate, butyrate | SCFA | Ameliorates intestinal and hematopoietic injury by reducing release of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage |
Fan, China, [43] | NA | IPA | Indole compound | Enhances barrier integrity by re-elevating the post-radiation decline of PXR/ACBP, and constraints oxidative and inflammatory responses thereby ameliorating post-radiation hematopoietic and intestinal injury |
Fan, China, [11] | NA | 3,3'-diindolylmethane | Indole compound | Promotes post-radiation DNA damage repairment, intestinal stem cell survival and anti-oxidative reaction thereby ameliorating post-radiation intestinal injury |
Crawford and Gordon, US, [4] | NA | NA | Lipid metabolism | Existence of gut microbiota increases apoptosis and aggravates post-radiation enteritis by suppressing the expression of fasting-induced adipose factor |
Dar, US, [52] | Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 15-lipoxygenase | Lipid metabolism | Augments post-radiation intestinal barrier breach by inducing ferroptosis and promoting inflammation |
Lactobacillus | Lipoteichoic acid | Probiotics | Promotes intestinal mesenchymal stem cells to migrate to crypts to release PGE2 near intestinal stem cells by activating TLR2/MYD88 and CXCL12-CXCR4, so as to impart anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative functions | |
Kweon, Korea, [55] | Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium | Lactate | Probiotics | Promotes supply of Wnt ligands from Paneth cells and mesenchymal cells by activating GPR81 thereby activating β-catenin pathway and enhancing post-radiation intestinal epithelial regeneration |
Kweon, Korea, [63] | Akkermansia | Acetate, propionate | Probiotics/SCFA | Produces SCFAs to activate Wnt/β-catenin-RAS-ERK pathway in intestinal stem cells thereby promoting proliferation and ameliorating post-radiation intestinal injury |
Kaakoush, Australia, [67] | Sutterella | NA | NA | Degrades the immuno-protective secretory IgA thereby compromising host's anti-pathogenic capacity and possibly increasing susceptibility to injury insult like radiation, which still merits validation |