Harnessing the Gut Microbiome to Improve Colorectal Cancer Outcomes
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Agents and Cancer".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 39
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health issue. Its increasing incidence in younger individuals combined with a lack of universal screening methods have made it a public health emergency. The first-line treatment for CRC is a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and sometimes immunotherapy. However, individuals’ response to treatment remains unpredictable, with some patients displaying little to no response, and others displaying complete tumor resolution without surgery. One potential answer lies in the gut microbiome, or the collection of microorganisms in the gut. Colorectal bacteria exert diverse functions in the gut, including the modulation of CRC cells, the gut microenvironment and the local immune system. The gut microbiota is therefore believed to harbor bacteria that may promote the development and progression of cancer, and others that may prevent tumor growth and improve oncological outcomes. Such effects may be direct via bacteria’s direct impact on tumor cells, or indirect via the action of bacterial metabolites that can inhibit the growth and invasiveness of CRCs. Such beneficial metabolites include short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate, which has been shown to promote a healthier gut barrier and surgical outcomes while impeding cancer growth. Nonetheless, more research is urgently needed to predict how the modification of the gut microbiome may improve individuals’ response to therapy and lead to long-term remission.
Dr. Carole S. Richard
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- colorectal cancer (CRC)
- gut microbiome
- screening
- CRC cells
- the gut microenvironment
- oncological outcomes
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