| Abstract [eng] |
Gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal and gastric cancers, are significant contributors to global mortality and pose a major challenge to public health. A critical yet underexplored aspect of these cancers is their association with the gut microbiome. Research indicates that the gut microbiome changes not only during the development of gastrointestinal cancer but also throughout its treatment. However, the complex interactions between cancer progression, treatment, side effects of the cancer treatment, and the gut microbiome remain largely understudied. Animal models are frequently used in cancer research but often fall short due to ethical considerations and biological differences from humans. Traditional in vitro systems – alternatives to in vivo models – lack the complexity to replicate the dynamic interactions between host cells and the gut microbiome. Bioreactor-based in vitro models have been developed to address this gap, offering a more comprehensive platform to study these interactions. Despite their potential, models, which include stool microbiome, are not widely utilized, especially in examining the side effects of cancer treatment. A prevalent side effect of cancer treatment is the oralization of the gut microbiome, characterized by the invasion and colonization of oral bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract. This condition can result from long-term usage of medications like proton pump inhibitors or surgical interventions. In this doctoral dissertation, we aim to reduce the reliance on animal models by developing an easy-to-use in vitro model that includes the human stool microbiome. We chose this approach to replicate the human gut environment better, providing a more accurate platform for studying the interactions between gastrointestinal cancers, their treatments, and the gut microbiome. Research often centers on creating new cancer drugs, but in our study, we emphasize reducing current treatment side effects to improve the well-being of cancer patients. We adapted a newly developed in vitro model to evaluate various probiotic and prebiotic combinations that could potentially reduce post-therapy side effects of oralization. |
