The gut microbiota is composed of commensal bacteria and other
microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract. The gut microbiome plays a
significant role in orchestrating human homeostasis via modulation of key steps
involving metabolism, inflammation and probably the most important of all, immunity.
As far as renal carcinoma is concerned, the diversity of the gut microbiome is a vital
risk factor in the onset and progression of renal cancer. Since probiotics have the
potential to positively amend the composition of gut microbiota, they have gained
increasing medical significance. The development of targeted immunotherapies has
changed the scenario of clinical management of renal carcinoma, but their use has been
hampered by increased host refractoriness and adverse effects. Recent studies show
that gut microbiota is involved in modulating the response to immunotherapy and the
host's susceptibility to dose-limiting adverse effects. Hence, manipulation of the gut
microbiome by probiotics is fast emerging as a feasible mechanism to improve
responsiveness to immunotherapy. In this chapter, we discuss the available evidence of
the potential role of modulation of microbiota by probiotics in the management of renal
carcinoma.
Keywords: Gut microbiome, Inflammation, Immune check point inhibitors (ICIs), Lactobacillus, Probiotics, Renal cell carcinoma.
