Find the perfect stool: how to change the cancer care of a donor’s microorganisms

In the discovery of reinventing cancer care, researchers at Fred Harchinson Cancer Center identified the so -called “super supply”. There is a huge hope. This discovery from a carefully controlled clinical trial testing of stool flora transplantation (FMT) from cancer patients.

The research published in “Nature” found that microorganisms from a specific donor reached 67 % of the implantation rate of the recipient-significantly exceeded other donors and may provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way to provide a new way. Preventing grafting-anti-disease disease (GVHD), this is a serious complication, a serious complication, which is a serious complications that affect up to half of the stem cell transplant.

The power of the appropriate donor

What makes this donor special? The key seems to be a bacterial species called bisidobacterium adolescents. The species is highly rich in the microbial group of the successful donor (11.6 %), but it actually does not exist. The bacterial species is famous for producing beneficial compounds and helping to restore intestinal health after antibiotics.

Armin Rashidi, a medical oncologist in Fred Hutch, Dr. Armin Rashidi, a doctor of medicine, explained: “The intestinal microbiological group itself is an organ, which is connected to the immune system.” “Because of the process of stem cell transplantation, Damage the intestinal microbial group, so we want to see if FMT helps to restore the diversity of microorganisms and promote the beneficial bacteria that support the health immune system.

First of all security

The trial involved 20 patients who accepted oral capsules containing pure microorganisms per day for one week. Although it was initially worried about providing live bacteria to patients with low immune function, the treatment was proven to be very safe. Nine of the twenty participants completed a week of treatment, only mild and temporary digestive symptoms.

A great impact: None of the eight patients who transplanted the best donor, none of the serious GVHDs occurred, and all three patients with severe GVHD occurred in patients who received materials from other supplies.

Science behind success

The research team conducted a wide range of genetic analysis of microorganisms before and after transplantation. They found that patients with less intestinal bacteria at the beginning actually showed the implantation of better supply microorganisms-this discovery can help determine which patient may benefit the most from this method.

Alexander Khoruts, a gastrointestinal diseaseist at the University of Minnesota Medical College and the study of co -authors, pointed out that this represents a new field of microbiological therapy. “Different from the treatment of Difficultylobia, most instructions need to be optimized for intestinal microbial formula.

Look forward to the future

These discoveries have initiated a larger random test, which will recruit 126 patients to determine whether the FMT of the best supply that has been determined can improve the prognosis of stem cell transplantation. The trial is now actively recruited by Fred Hutch in Seattle.

Rashidi explained: “The hope of using FMT among those who receive stem cell transplantation is that FMT will help prevent acute GVHD without increasing more immunosuppressing, improving the quality of life and reducing the mortality after transplantation.”

For thousands of patients who receive stem cell transplants each year, this study provides new hope, that is, simple things such as good -choosing beneficial bacteria may help protect them from the infringement of one of the most worried complications of the program.