1. Gut Microbiome Changes After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery in Patients with Gastric Cancer.
- Author
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Žukauskaitė, Kristina, Baušys, Bernardas, Horvath, Angela, Sabaliauskaitė, Rasa, Šeštokaitė, Agnė, Mlynska, Agata, Jarmalaitė, Sonata, Stadlbauer, Vanessa, Baušys, Rimantas, and Baušys, Augustinas
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical gastrectomy is the standard approach for locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) in the West. This study investigated microbiome changes throughout GC treatment, including NAC and gastrectomy. A longitudinal observational design was employed, analyzing gut microbiome composition, fecal calprotectin, and gut permeability markers (LBP, sCD14) at baseline, post-NAC, and post-gastrectomy in 38 patients. Results indicated that NAC did not alter gut microbiome composition at the phylum level, whereas gastrectomy increased Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and decreased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. NAC alone did not affect alpha or beta diversity; however, combining NAC with gastrectomy led to significant diversity changes. Post-gastrectomy microbiome analysis revealed an enrichment of oralization-associated bacteria, including Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus equinus, and members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. These findings suggest that gut microbiome alterations in GC treatment are primarily driven by gastrectomy rather than NAC, resulting in long-term oralization-associated shifts. Background/Objectives: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical gastrectomy is the current standard approach for locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) in the West. Both NAC and gastrectomy can significantly influence the gut microbiome, potentially leading to clinically significant changes. However, no longitudinal studies to date support this hypothesis. This study investigates gut microbiome changes throughout GC treatment, including NAC and gastrectomy. Methods: This longitudinal observational study included GC patients undergoing NAC followed by gastrectomy. Fecal microbiome composition, intestinal inflammation (fecal calprotectin), and gut permeability (LBP, sCD14) markers were investigated at baseline, after NAC, and after gastrectomy. Results: A total of 38 patients were included in the study. The results showed that NAC did not affect the gut microbiome composition at the phylum level. In contrast, radical gastrectomy led to an increased abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and a decreased abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Furthermore, NAC alone did not impact alpha or beta diversity, while a combination of NAC and gastrectomy significantly influenced both. After gastrectomy, the gut microbiome composition analysis also revealed enrichment of oralization-associated bacterial species such as Escherichia-Shigella, Streptococcus equinus, uncultured Streptococcus species, and species from the Enterobacteriaceae family. Intestinal inflammation and gut permeability markers did not significantly change throughout the treatment. Conclusions: The radical treatment of advanced GC with NAC and radical surgery has long-term effects on the gut microbiome, characterized by gut microbiome oralization. These sustained alterations primarily stem from the radical gastrectomy rather than the NAC. Since previous studies have linked oralization-associated dysbiosis to various gastrointestinal symptoms, this study highlights the gut microbiome as a potential therapeutic target to enhance the quality of life in long-term survivors following gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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