Chemotherapy is a popular drug treatment option that relies on powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in the body. While it is commonly used in cancer treatment, it also results in adverse effects on patients. While it is mainly known to cause cognitive decline, researchers have also linked it to a significant decline in the gut microbiome.
Gut Microbiome
According to Leah Pyter, a senior associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, patients treated with Chemotherapy show reductions in the diversity of gut microbiome in addition to decline in cognitive performance. The study findings indicate the direct connection between the gut and the brain, which could enable the creation of treatments for the gut that can also treat the brain.
During the study, fecal samples, blood and cognitive measures were taken from 77 patients and analyzed. The study mainly focused on patients with breast cancer before, during, and after undergoing Chemotherapy.
The study extends on Pyter’s earlier work with mice, which showed that chemotherapy-related alterations in the gut microbiome lead to changes in brain function and behavioral issues. The present research suggests a link between the gut microbiome and mental abilities also exists in humans.
Chemotherapy Effects
On the other hand, chemotherapy-related side effects are widespread. They can lower the quality of life, yet these effects are often seen as ‘normal’ and thus ignored or inadequately addressed. According to Pyter, interventions targeting the gut microbiome, like fecal microbial transplantation, could alleviate the behavioral issues caused by Chemotherapy.
Given that Chemotherapy is an essential tool for treating many cancers, its side effects have never deterred patients from pursuing it as a form of treatment. Therefore, it is important to find a fine balance between the effects and the benefits of the treatment option.
Navigating the balance between successfully controlling cancer and managing chemotherapy side effects is a delicate tightrope walk. Various researchers and teams are working in both hospital clinics and laboratories daily to find methods to control the adverse effects of cancer treatment, all while focusing on improving the quality of life.
