title: Host-microbe cross talk in cancer therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microbiota secrete a multitude of factors that either confer virulence or promote colonization because they are continuously challenged by host immune responses. The dynamic interplay between the host's immune response and microbiota eventually determines the outcome for the host: health or disease. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in this interplay as they can recognize both microbial and host-derived ligands on the basis of the context in which recognition occurs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence is accumulating that conventional cancer therapies alter interactions and cross talks between the host and microbiota. This has been shown for intestinal mucositis, a common side-effect of various cancer therapies. Advances have been made in the development of new and less toxic cancer strategies. One promising field is immunotherapy on the basis of TLR activation through recognition of microbial-associated molecular patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence is emerging, indicating that existing cancer therapies have implications on the composition and functionality of the host-microbiota environment. This may favor the colonization of pathogens and build up the overall toxicity of the drug. Exploitation of the host-microbiota cross talks mediated by TLRs is an emerging and promising field in the search for new, less toxic anticancer strategies.
authors: aMucositis Research Group, Centre for Personalised Cancer Medicine (CPCM), Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in Oral Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia bLaboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium cSansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Vanhoecke
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Stringer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051193:Toll-Like Receptors