The role of gut microbiome in chemoresistance property development in colorectal cancer tissue and its novel therapeutic strategies

Colorectal cancer remains the second contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite various advances in chemotherapeutic approaches, chemoresistance still poses a significant risk, hampering the effectiveness of the treatment. Recent researches have explored the crucial role of dysbiotic gut microbiota in the progression of CRC. Specific dysbiosed gut microbiota plays a key role in enhancing chemoresistance in CRC patients through different mechanisms by metabolizing drugs, and modulating the immune system, creating a barrier between CRC tissue and chemotherapeutic drugs. Various microbial genes have been linked to chemoresistance that code for different enzymes, resulting in the degradation of chemotherapeutic drugs, thus reducing drug's efficiency and identifying these genes can provide insight into various resistance pathways. Therefore, identifying the microbial signature for predetection of chemoresistance in patient, prevention of colonizing chemoresistance inducing bacteria and interventions like modification of gut flora for enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics is essential to overcome these challenges.