Gut Microbiome Therapeutics For Colorectal Cancer: Advances In Bacteria And Phage Driven Interventions

Author : Prayash Pandey, Rachit Gupta, Rahul, Dr. Ankita Tehlan

Abstract : Colorectal Cancer (CRC) remains a major global health burden, with over 1.9 million new cases reported in 2022 and a rising incidence worldwide. Although advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy have improved outcomes, their effectiveness is often limited by drug resistance, immune evasion, and treatment-associated toxicity. Recent research has shifted focus toward the gut microbiome as a critical regulator of colorectal carcinogenesis and therapeutic response. Microbial dysbiosis actively contributes to CRC progression through genotoxic metabolite production, chronic inflammation, and immune modulation. Oncogenic species such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, and pks⁺ Escherichia coli play key roles in establishing a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment. In parallel, the gut phageome has emerged as an important determinant of microbial dynamics, with disease-associated signatures offering both diagnostic and therapeutic potential. This review evaluates two rapidly advancing therapeutic strategies, including microbiome-restorative approaches such as fecal microbiota transplantation, engineered probiotics, and live biotherapeutic products, and bacteriophage-based interventions that enable strain-specific targeting of oncogenic bacteria while preserving beneficial commensals. Notably, combinatorial strategies integrating both modalities demonstrate enhanced efficacy in preclinical models. Using a PRISMA-guided framework, this review synthesizes mechanistic, preclinical, and early clinical evidence to outline a roadmap for microbiome-based CRC therapeutics and their potential to advance precision oncology.

Keywords : Colorectal Cancer; Gut Microbiome; Bacteriophage Therapy; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Dysbiosis; Tumor Microenvironment; Precision Oncology; Phageome; Live Biotherapeutic Products

Conference Name : International Conference on Biomedical Innovations in Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (ICBIBB-26)

Conference Place : Coimbatore, India

Conference Date : 2nd May 2026