A balanced gut microbiome is a must.

The gut microbiome consists of a broad mixture of microbes that are both helpful and potentially harmful. Most of the microbes are symbiotic (where both the human body and microbiota benefit) and some type of microbes, albeit often in smaller numbers, are considered pathogenic and could therefore promoting diseases.

In a healthy body, both pathogenic and symbiotic microbiota coexist without problems. But whever there is a substantial disturbance in that balance, a dysbiosis occurs and such leads to interference of the otherwise normal interactions. As a result of a dysbiosis in the gut microbiome, the body may become more susceptible to diseases. The gut microbiome has a direct influence on the body's immunesystem.

A direct influence of gut microbiota on the outcome of anti-cancer treatments, has been proven. Especially in relation to so called immune-checkpoint-inhibitors; a class of therapeutics that aims to restore functionalities of Natural Killer - and T-cells. Studies revealed that patients with substantial quantities of the Akkermansia Muciniphila bacteria in their guts, tend to have a improved response to the class of so called immune-checkpoint-inhibitors or ICI's. Especially against the CTLA-4 and PD-(L)1 targets, ICI therapies become much more effective against various types of cancer, when balanced amounts of Akkermansia Muciniphila bacteria exist in the patient's gut.

Besides the gut microbiome, there's also a intra-tumor microbiome. Yes, bacterial colonies inside tumor tissue. For example in colon cancers. Studies revealed that chemotherapy-resistant types of colorectal cancers, are directly influenced by microbes. For example Roseburia, Massilia, and Microbulbifer bacteria promote responses tot chemotherapy while Cutibacterium, Comamonas, Staphylococcus, and Hydrogenophilus are related to (intra-tumoral) chemo-resistance.

So albeit the fact that information regarding the influence of gut-microbes on cancers, is still relatively new and in some ways scarce, within the CASCADEplus system, a balanced gut microbiome is nevertheless a insepartable part.