Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may develop a fever, which is a condition known as neutropenic fever. This type of fever is caused by a decrease in infection-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils, which occurs as a side effect of chemotherapy. Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found that an altered gut microbiome may also contribute to the development of neutropenic fever in cancer patients. They discovered that an increase in a specific type of harmful bacteria in the gut, called Akkermansia muciniphila, can occur in people receiving chemotherapy and can contribute to the development of fever. The researchers also found that certain chemotherapy drugs and a poor appetite during cancer treatment can alter the gut microbiome and increase the risk of developing neutropenic fever. Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in neutropenic fever may help improve the care and management of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abo3445