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The composition of the gut microbiota has emerged as a tumour-extrinsic factor that modulates response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), although the lack of consistency in microbiota
signatures across studies has limited their value as reliable biomarkers. Herein, we discuss a recent study in which longitudinal microbiome profiling identified several taxa that are
persistently enriched in patients with melanoma and a favourable response to ICIs. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your
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subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Routy, B. et al. Melanoma and microbiota: current understanding and future directions. _Cancer Cell_ 42, 16–34 (2024).
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(MET4-IO trial). _Ann. Oncol._ 34, 520–530 (2023). Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS S.M.V. is supported by a salary award from the Ontario Institute
of Cancer Research and grants from the Hecht Family Foundation and Weston Foundation. D.D. is supported by grants from the Department of Defense (ME230254), Gateway Foundation for Cancer
Research and National Institute of Health (P50 CA254865 (Project 2), R01 CA257265 and U01 CA271407). AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Oncology, Western University,
London, Ontario, Canada Saman Maleki Vareki * Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada Saman Maleki Vareki * Verspeeten Family Cancer
Centre, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada Saman Maleki Vareki * Division of Medical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Diwakar Davar * UPMC
Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Diwakar Davar Authors * Saman Maleki Vareki View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Diwakar Davar
View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Diwakar Davar. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS S.M.V. is
an independent director at IMV, and a consultant for Fed Bio and Kanvas Biosciences. D.D. receives institutional grants and research support from Arcus, Immunocore, Merck, Regeneron
Pharmaceuticals and Tesaro/GSK; is a consultant for ACM Bio, Ascendis, Castle, Clinical Care Options, Gerson Lehrman Group, Immunitas, Medical Learning Group, Replimmune, Trisalus and Xilio
Therapeutics; a member of the speakers’ bureau for Castle Biosciences; and is involved in the US Patent 63/124,231 (‘Compositions and Methods for Treating Cancer’) and US Patent 63/208,719
(‘Compositions and Methods For Responsiveness to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI), Increasing Effectiveness of ICI and Treating Cancer’). RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Maleki Vareki, S., Davar, D. Identification of dynamic microbiota signatures in patients with melanoma receiving ICIs: opportunities and challenges. _Nat
Rev Clin Oncol_ 21, 405–406 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-024-00882-2 Download citation * Published: 20 March 2024 * Issue Date: June 2024 * DOI:
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