Conclusion
This study reported an association between gut microbiota and sunitinib-induced diarrhea. Defects of the butyrate-producing bacteria and the increase in Bacteroides may be the physiological basis of sunitinib-induced diarrhea.
Methods
Feces were collected from 31 mRCC patients receiving sunitinib treatment. To characterize the feces gut microbiome profiles of patients, the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA sequencing was carried out in this study.
Results
Gut microbial diversity was decreased both in the severe diarrhea group and in the sunitinib-post group. The microbial composition with higher abundance of Bacteroides (mucus degrading bacteria) and lower abundance of Faecalibacterium, Oscillospira, Ruminococcaceae, Eubacterium and Coriobacteriaceae (butyrate-producing bacteria) were found in patients with diarrhea. Interestingly, the abundance of Actinobacteria was decreased in patients receiving sunitinib with severe diarrhea.