From the gut to the brain: The involvement of the gut microbiota in the development and progression of glioblastoma

TL;DR

This paper reviews how gut microbiota influences glioblastoma development and treatment through the gut-brain axis, suggesting new therapeutic approaches.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of the gut microbiota's role in glioblastoma and potential microbiota-targeted therapies.

Findings

Gut microbiota can modulate immune responses and inflammatory pathways affecting glioblastoma progression.

Fecal microbiota transplantation and bacterial toxins show promise in treating glioblastoma.

Probiotics and antibiotics may influence glioblastoma prognosis, but more research is needed.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most malignant tumor in the adult central nervous system (CNS), presenting substantial treatment challenges due to its infiltrative nature, heterogeneity and immunosuppressive environment it creates. Current therapeutic efforts are focused on enhancing our understanding of GB and developing effective therapies. An emerging area of interest is the bidirectional gut–brain axis, which mediates communication between gut microbiota and CNS. The gut–brain axis allows the microbiota to modulate the immune system and inflammatory pathways through microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tryptophan derivatives, promoting or suppressing GB progression. Understanding these interactions can lead to microbiota-targeted therapies for GB patients. Novel therapies, such as fecal microbiota transplantation to enhance immunotherapy response and using bacterial toxins to cross the blood–brain barrier, show promise in improving treatment-resistant GB treatment. Additionally, the role of probiotics and antibiotics on GB prognosis is being investigated. While more research is needed to understand the gut microbiota’s role in GB, recent findings suggest promising directions for future therapies. This review examines the interplay between key immune system components and the microbiota in GB development and explores how this understanding could facilitate the development of novel therapeutic interventions.

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