The gut microbiome (GM) has been implicated in a vast number of human pathologies and has become a focus of oncology research over the past 5 years. The normal gut microbiota imparts specific function in host nutrient metabolism, xenobiotic and drug metabolism, maintenance of structural integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, immunomodulation and protection against pathogens. Strong evidence is emerging to support the effects of the GM on the development of some malignancies but also on responses to cancer therapies, most notably, immune checkpoint inhibition. Tools for manipulating the GM including dietary modification, probiotics and faecal microbiota transfer (FMT) are in development. Current understandings of the many complex interrelationships between the GM, cancer, the immune system, nutrition and medication are ultimately based on a combination of short‐term clinical trials and observational studies, paired with an ever-evolving understanding of cancer biology. The next generation of personalised cancer therapies focusses on molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity, tumour evolution and immune status; it is distinctly possible that the GM will become an increasingly central focus amongst them. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with an overview of microbiome science and our current understanding of the role the GM plays in cancer.

肠道微生物组 (GM) 与大量人类病理有关，并且在过去 5 年中已成为肿瘤学研究的焦点。正常的肠道微生物群在宿主营养代谢、外源物质和药物代谢、维持肠粘膜屏障的结构完整性、免疫调节和防御病原体方面具有特定的功能。强有力的证据正在出现，支持转基因对某些恶性肿瘤的发展以及对癌症治疗的反应的影响，尤其是免疫检查点抑制。用于操纵 GM 的工具正在开发中，包括饮食调整、益生菌和粪便微生物群转移 (FMT)。目前对转基因、癌症、免疫系统、营养和药物之间许多复杂相互关系的理解最终基于短期临床试验和观察性研究的结合，以及对癌症生物学不断发展的理解。下一代个性化癌症治疗侧重于分子和表型异质性、肿瘤进化和免疫状态；很明显，全球机制将成为他们之中日益关注的焦点。本综述的目的是为临床医生提供微生物组科学的概述以及我们目前对 GM 在癌症中所扮演的角色的理解。