Deciphering the role of the gut microbiota in the success of radiation therapy for colorectal cancer (P11)

• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 395357507

Radiation therapy (RT) plays a crucial role in the treatment of advanced rectal cancer. However, the influence of the intestinal microbiome in this context is largely unknown. In the next funding period, this project will examine the intestinal microbiome of study patients with advanced rectal cancer during their RT in order to link microbial signatures and specific microbial signals to therapy outcomes. In parallel, the mechanisms of these observations are investigated using novel in vitro and in vivo models, such as by experimental RT of rectally transplanted tumor organoids into mice with different microbial interventions. The aim of this clinical-experimental project is to pave the way for the clinical application of innovative microbiome-based treatment concepts (e.g. fecal microbiota transfer) to improve the therapy of advanced colorectal cancer.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1371: Microbiome Signatures -- Functional Relevance in the Digestive Tract
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Heads: Dr. Julius Fischer; Markus Tschurtschenthaler, Ph.D.