Scientists in Canada are pioneering a bold new approach to combat one of the deadliest cancers by testing the world’s first ‘poop pill’ – a revolutionary treatment that could boost chemotherapy’s effectiveness against advanced pancreatic cancer.
Researchers at Lawson Research Institute and London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute are leading this groundbreaking study, which explores the use of fecal transplants in capsule form. These capsules, called LND101, contain beneficial gut bacteria from healthy donors, potentially altering the tumor’s microbial environment to enhance chemotherapy’s impact.
Why It Matters
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with a five-year survival rate of only 10%. Tumors develop their own microbial defenses, making them resistant to treatment. LND101 aims to disrupt this barrier and improve patient outcomes.
How It Works
Over the next two years, pancreatic cancer patients at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre will take part in a Phase I trial. Researchers will administer rigorously screened, odorless fecal transplant capsules and monitor changes in gut bacteria and immune response.
Previous studies have shown that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can improve responses to cancer treatments. If successful, this trial could revolutionize cancer therapy by leveraging the gut microbiome to enhance chemotherapy, offering new hope for patients battling pancreatic cancer.