FIBRE FOR FIGHTING MELANOMA

Melanoma patients receiving a new type of therapy known as ICB respond to treatment better when their diet is rich in fibre, according to a large, international research collaboration led by Oregon State University. One of the most aggressive cancers, melanoma kills by metastasising, or spreading, to other organs such as the liver, lungs and brain. The new study focuses on a therapeutic technique called immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). ICB therapy relies on inhibitor drugs that block proteins called checkpoints produced by certain immune system cells and also by some cancer cells. Checkpoints help prevent immune responses from being too strong, but sometimes that means keeping T cells from killing cancer cells. Thus, when the checkpoints are blocked, T cells can do a better job of killing cancer cells. The study showed that dietary fibre, known to impact the gut microbiome, is linked to improved ICB outcomes.