Fecal microbiota transplants may aid melanoma immunotherapy resistance

Abstract

Key Points Two phase 1 clinical studies suggest that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may restore sensitivity to anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (anti–PD-1) inhibition among some patients whose metastatic melanoma has persisted or progressed during treatment with anti–PD-1 drugs. Further investigations are needed to better identify microbial, circulating, and intratumoral biomarkers in order to select the patients most likely to benefit from fecal microbiome–based therapy of melanoma.