Overview

• Researchers at UCSF identified gut bacteria capable of detoxifying fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy drugs by transforming them into harmless byproducts.
• The presence of these drug-metabolizing bacteria correlates with reduced side effect severity, such as nausea and vomiting, in colorectal cancer patients.
• Preclinical mouse studies showed that administering these bacteria as probiotics significantly alleviated chemotherapy-induced side effects.
• A nonpathogenic strain of E. coli thriving during chemotherapy produces vitamin K2, which was found to reduce neuropathic symptoms in treated mice.
• Efforts are underway to integrate microbiome profiling and targeted interventions into clinical oncology to personalize treatment and improve patient outcomes.