Health~Holland is subsidizing a large international study into the effect of gut bacteria on improving immunotherapy and reducing side effects. A public-private partnership, led by Medical Microbiology of UMC Utrecht, will receive eight hundred thousand euros for this.
UMC Utrecht will announce this on September 21. The research focuses on the so-called ‘immune checkpoint inhibition’ therapy (ICI), which stimulates the attack on cancer cells. Bacteria in the intestinal tract play a major role in its effectiveness, but it is still unclear how. In addition, there are risks associated with ICI therapy: intestinal inflammation can develop that is irreversible and sometimes fatal.
Under the supervision of UMC Utrecht, research is being conducted into which bacterial species and underlying mechanisms influence the effectiveness of the therapy, but also the toxicity caused by the inflammation. To this end, a biobank with patient material is being set up, among other things.