The interplay between drugs and microbiota is critical for successful treatment. An accumulating amount of evidence has identified the significant impact of intestinal microbiota composition on cancer treatment response, particularly immunotherapy. The possible molecular pathways of the interaction between immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the microbiome can be used to reverse immunotherapy tolerance in cancer by using various kinds of interventions on the intestinal bacteria. This paper aimed to review the data available on how the antibiotic-related changes in human microbiota during colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment can affect and determine ICI treatment outcomes. We also covered the data that support the potential intimate mechanisms of both local and systemic immune responses induced by changes in the intestinal microbiota. However, further better-powered studies are needed to thoroughly assess the clinical significance of antibiotic-induced alteration of the gut microbiota and its impact on CRC treatment by direct observations of patients receiving antibiotic treatment.

The genetic and metabolomic abundance of the microbiome exemplifies that the microbiome comprises a more extensive set of genes than the entire human genome, which justifies the numerous metabolic and immunological interactions between the gut microbiota, macroorganisms and immune processes. These interactions have local and systemic impacts that can influence the pathological process of carcinogenesis. The latter can be promoted, enhanced or inhibited by the interactions between the microbiota and the host. This review aimed to present evidence that interactions between the host and the gut microbiota might be a significant exogenic factor for cancer predisposition. It is beyond doubt that the cross-talk between microbiota and the host cells in terms of epigenetic modifications can regulate gene expression patterns and influence cell fate in both beneficial and adverse directions for the host’s health. Furthermore, bacterial metabolites could shift pro- and anti-tumor processes in one direction or another. However, the exact mechanisms behind these interactions are elusive and require large-scale omics studies to better understand and possibly discover new therapeutic approaches for cancer.

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have made a paradigm shift in clinical oncology due to unprecedented long-term remissions. However, only a small proportion of patients respond to ICI therapy. It is, therefore, essential to understand the mechanisms driving therapy resistance and to develop strategies for increasing response rates. We previously demonstrated that in response to various cancer treatment modalities, the host activates a range of biological processes that promote tumor regrowth and metastasis. Here, we characterize the host-mediated response to ICI therapy, and investigate its contribution to therapy resistance. Methods Tumor cell migration, invasion and motility were assessed in the presence of plasma from ICI-treated mice and patients. Immune cell composition in peripheral blood and tumors of ICI-treated mice was assessed by flow and mass cytometry. Plasma host factors driving tumor aggressiveness were identified by proteomic profiling, followed by bioinformatic analysis. The therapeutic effect of inhibiting host-mediated processes in ICI-treated mice was assessed in a tumor model. Results Tumor cells exhibit enhanced migratory and invasive properties in vitro on exposure to plasma from anti-PD1-treated mice. Moreover, mice intravenously injected with plasma-exposed tumor cells display increased metastatic burden and mortality rate in comparison to control arms. Furthermore, tumors from anti-PD1-treated mice as well as Matrigel plugs containing plasma from anti-PD1-treated mice are highly infiltrated with immune cell types associated with both antitumor and protumor activity. These collective findings suggest that anti-PD1 treatment induces a systemic host response that potentially counteracts the drug’s therapeutic activity. Proteomic profiling of plasma from anti-PD1-treated mice reveals an activation of multiple biological pathways associated with tumor aggressiveness. Consequently, blocking IL-6, one of the key drivers of the identified biological pathways, counteracts ICI-induced metastatic properties in vitro and improves ICI treatment efficacy in vivo. Lastly, plasma samples from ICI-treated non-small cell lung cancer patients differentially affect tumor cell aggressiveness in vitro, with enhanced tumor cell motility correlating with a worse clinical outcome. Conclusions ICI therapy induces host-mediated processes that contribute to therapy resistance. Identification and analysis of such processes may lead to the discovery of biomarkers for clinical response and strategies for overcoming therapy resistance.

What could microRNA expression tell us more about colorectal serrated pathway carcinogenesis?

Approved CDK4/6 inhibitors have demonstrated significant improvements in progression free survival when combined with fulvestrant in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, though limited by neutropenia and gastrointestinal side effects. Lerociclib is a potent selective CDK4/6 inhibitor with a differentiated PK/PD profile from currently approved CDK4/6 inhibitors that has demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept (Phase 1b data ASCO 2018). This Phase 1b/2a study assesses lerociclib dose escalation in combination with 500 mg fulvestrant using a 3+3 design followed by dose expansion in patients with metastatic or locally advanced HR+/HER2- breast cancer that had progressed following endocrine therapy. Up to two prior chemotherapies in Phase 1b and one prior in Phase 2a in the advanced setting are allowed. Prior fulvestrant was excluded for all patients; prior CDK4/6 inhibitors were excluded in Phase 2a only. Lerociclib is administered daily without a drug holiday. The objectives are to evaluate DLTs, safety, tolerability, PK, and tumor response and to determine the recommended dose and schedule (QD or BID) of lerociclib administered with fulvestrant for randomized trials. The BID dosing regimen demonstrated optimal safety, tolerability, and antitumor activity. To date, 35 patients (6 patients @ 100 mg BID, 9 patients @ 150 mg BID, 17 patients @ 200 mg BID, and 3 patients @ 250 mg BID) with mean age of 54 years, ECOG of 0 (86%) or 1 (14%), and a median of two prior anticancer therapies in the advanced setting have received lerociclib + fulvestrant for up to 804 days. A dose proportional increase in drug exposure has been observed. The most common lerociclib-related adverse events were neutropenia (63%), leukopenia (57%), nausea (37%), anemia (29%), diarrhea (20%), and thrombocytopenia (20%). The rates of lerociclib-related Grade 3 and Grade 4 neutropenia were 29% and 9%, respectively. Following an initial decline, ANC plateaued beginning at week 4. There were no reports of Grade 3 or greater nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. One DLT of dose interruption due to Grade 2 fatigue and nausea was observed at 200 mg BID. There have been no reports of venous thromboembolism, QT prolongation or drug-induced liver injury. Twenty patients were evaluable for tumor response based on RECIST v1.1. Five patients (25%) had a confirmed PR; 8 patients (40 %) had stable disease; 6 patients (30 %) had PD. The CBR (CR + PR + SD ≥ 24 weeks) was 67% (12 of 18 patients either had SD at the week 24 tumor assessments or achieved an objective response). A population PK/PD/efficacy model was developed, and simulation data are concordant with existing clinical results. Additional patients are being enrolled at 150 mg BID and 200 mg BID, and updated data will be presented. Lerociclib, dosed BID with no drug holiday, has a favorable safety profile with low rates of gastrointestinal AEs and Grade 3/4 neutropenia, as well as encouraging antitumor activity in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Phase 2b is ongoing to confirm the BID dose (150 mg or 200 mg) for randomized clinical trials. Clinical trial information: NCT02983071. Citation Format: Iurie Bulat, Marina Maglakelidze, Carmen Murias, Boris Krastev, Richard D Baird, Andrew M Wardley, Rebecca Roylance, Adrian Crijanovschi, Maia Gogiladze, Yili Pritchett, Amy McCullough, Chao Li, Jessica A Sorrentino, Rajesh Malik, Andrew P Beelen. Dose escalation and expansion study of lerociclib (G1T38), an oral CDK4/6 inhibitor, dosed with no drug holiday in combination with fulvestrant in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-19-17.