Faecal transplants can treat some cancers but probably won't ever be widely used

faecal microbiota transplants (FMT) have shown potential in enhancing responses to cancer immunotherapy, particularly in melanoma patients. Clinical trials have demonstrated that FMT can improve the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients who initially did not respond to treatment. In one study, 6 out of 15 participants benefited from FMT, while another trial reported that 13 out of 20 patients responded positively after receiving transplants from healthy donors. Despite these promising results, FMT is unlikely to become a widespread treatment due to practical challenges, including donor recruitment and variability in stool quality. Researchers are now focusing on developing standardized bacterial consortia to modify gut microbiomes more reliably. This shift aims to create controlled treatments that could replace FMT, which is seen as a proof of concept rather than a long-term solution. The gut microbiome's role in immunotherapy responses is complex, influenced by various factors, including diet and antibiotic use. Studies suggest that a high-fiber diet may enhance treatment efficacy, while antibiotics could hinder it. Ongoing research aims to identify specific bacterial species linked to positive immunotherapy outcomes, with the hope of personalizing treatments based on individual microbiome profiles. Although initial efforts to create effective bacterial consortia have faced challenges, researchers remain optimistic about developing microbiome-targeted therapies to improve cancer treatment outcomes in the future.