Research from the University Hospital 12 de Octubre and the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) suggests that a diet rich in short chain fatty acids It can improve the survival of patients with multiple myeloma and prevent the disease in premalignant stages.
The work, published in Clinical cancer researchI'm sure he figured that out microorganismsthat produce these acids in the large intestine digestionare associated with a better response to treatment in patients with multiple myeloma, which also means that their detection in stool and blood can predict response to treatment.
Multiple myeloma is a malignant neoplasm of plasma cells and is the second most common hematological malignancy after non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Multiple myeloma has an asymptomatic premalignant stage called monoclonal gammopathy that always precedes the development of the disease.
Almost 15% of these patients develop multiple myeloma. The introduction of certain drugs has increased survival time, but ultimately most patients die from this cancer.
Gut microbes
Therefore, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the development of the disease in order to prevent its risk. This research analyzes whether the gut microbiota and the substances or metabolites it produces are altered in monoclonal gammopathies, what possible role they play in multiple myeloma, and how they respond to treatment.
The work analyzed serum and stool samples from a cohort of 46 people and validated them against samples from another cohort of 62 patients with multiple myeloma.
Changes were observed particularly in patients with active disease and in patients with poor prognosis; after treatment, a reduction in short-chain fatty acid production was noted.
On the other hand, bacteria involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids were more represented in patients in the premalignant stage or in complete remission of the disease, showing that a better overall survival.
Therapeutic potential
Accordingly Maria LinaresResearchers at the UCM and at the i+12 Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre, the work shows that short-chain fatty acids and the intestinal microbiota associated with their production “could have positive effects on the development of the disease and the response” to treatment, making them therapeutic potential and its value as a predictor for physicians.”
Dr. Linares explains that their goal is to work primarily on prevention: “We want to use these microbial metabolites as new therapeutics or even through a diet that favors their production.” A balanced diet rich in fiber promotes the growth of bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids. “In addition, there are foods rich in this type of metabolite, including some dairy products such as Parmesan cheese.”
Currently, myeloma patients undergo various treatments in combination with bone marrow transplantation. This research seeks to offer low-toxicity alternatives to avoid side effects in combination with some of the current myeloma treatments or that could be administered to patients with gammopathies who are not currently receiving treatment.
We want to use these microbial metabolites as new therapeutics or even through a diet that promotes their production.
This is the first work to characterize the microbiota and microbial metabolite production at different stages of the disease, including response to treatment, which gives it great value.
reference:
Alba Rodríguez-García et al. “Short-chain fatty acid production by the gut microbiota predicts treatment response in multiple myeloma. Clinical cancer research (2024)