A research team led by Dr. Y.H. Huang (Taipei Veterans General Hospital) and Dr. P.C. Lee (NYCU) has discovered a significant link between gut microbiome metabolites and the efficacy of immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).

Key Findings:

• The Acetate Indicator: Analyzing 102 HCC patients, the team confirmed that high concentrations of Acetate (acetic acid) in fecal samples correlate with significantly better outcomes. Patients with high acetate levels showed a 2x increase in overall survival and a 3x increase in progression-free survival.
• Clinical Application: This study, published in the journal Hepatology, suggests that acetate levels can be used as a biomarker to screen patients most likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• Clarification: The researchers clarified that dietary intake of vinegar does not increase intestinal acetate levels, as it is broken down early in the GI tract; the beneficial acetate must be produced by bacterial metabolism (postbiotics).
• Next Steps: The team is now investigating how to reverse immunotherapy resistance by supplementing specific probiotics or utilizing fecal microbiota transplants (FMT).

Resource: 腸道菌群代謝物 可預測肝癌免疫治療成效