Vagus innervation in the gastrointestinal tumor: Current understanding and challenges

Gut microbiota reshapes cancer immunotherapy efficacy: Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Gut microbiota is essential for maintaining local and systemic immune homeostasis in the presence of bacterial challenges. It has been demonstrated that microbiota play contrasting roles in cancer development as well as anticancer immunity. Cancer immunotherapy, a novel anticancer therapy that relies on the stimulation of host immunity, has suffered from a low responding rate and incidence of severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Previous studies have demonstrated that the diversity and composition of gut microbiota were associated with the heterogeneity of therapeutic effects. Therefore, alteration in microbiota taxa can lead to improved clinical outcomes in immunotherapy. In this review, we determine whether microbiota composition or microbiota-derived metabolites are linked to responses to immunotherapy and irAEs. Moreover, we discuss various approaches to improve immunotherapy efficacy or reduce toxicities by modulating microbiota composition.

Crosstalk of nervous and immune systems in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor known for its extremely low survival rate. The combination of genetic disorders within pancreatic cells and the tumor microenvironment contributes to the emergence and progression of this devastating disease. Extensive research has shed light on the nature of the microenvironmental cells surrounding the pancreatic cancer, including peripheral nerves and immune cells. Peripheral nerves release neuropeptides that directly target pancreatic cancer cells in a paracrine manner, while immune cells play a crucial role in eliminating cancer cells that have not evaded the immune response. Recent studies have revealed the intricate interplay between the nervous and immune systems in homeostatic condition as well as in cancer development. In this review, we aim to summarize the function of nerves in pancreatic cancer, emphasizing the significance to investigate the neural-immune crosstalk during the advancement of this malignant cancer.