The Gut Microbiome and Gastrointestinal Toxicities in Pelvic Radiation Therapy: A Clinical Review

摘要

A substantial proportion of cancer patients receive radiotherapy (RT) during their cancer trajectory. One of the most challenging pelvic RT-related toxicities are gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities (e.g., abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, faecal incontinence, and diarrhoea) which impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients. Mounting evidence suggests that gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in health and disease, including cancer. Our current clinical review aims to assess the impact of RT on gut microbiota and GI toxicities in cancer patients to provide useful information, in addition to standard care, for clinicians and patients.