Episode 033 - Dr Saman Maleki
The following is a conversation with Dr Saman Maleki, associate professor at Western University with a special focus on oncology, immuno oncology, microbiology, and everything to do with the immune system and the microbiome.
Dr Maleki is a pioneer and a world leader in the field of sensitising tumours to immunotherapy through modulating the microbiome.
Dr. Saman Maleki discusses his journey into studying the microbiome and its impact on cancer treatment. He initially had a background in microbiology and immunology, and became interested in the potential link between the microbiome and cancer. He conducted research on biomarkers of response to immunotherapy and discovered early studies suggesting that the gut microbiome could be an indicator of treatment response.
He faced challenges in convincing oncologists to consider faecal transplants as a treatment option, but eventually received funding and conducted successful trials. He emphasizes the need for randomized trials to generate quality data and establish the impact of microbiome interventions in oncology. Dr. Saman Maleki discusses the use of animal models, particularly mouse models, in microbiome research.
He emphasises that while animal models are useful tools, they are not perfect representations of human microbiomes. However, in the context of immunotherapy with tumour models, these models can recreate what happens with patients to some extent.
Dr. Maleki also discusses the use of germ-free mouse models and expresses his preference for using SPF mice, as humans are not germ-free. He highlights the importance of avatar mouse models, which have a human microbiome, in studying the microbiome's impact on cancer treatment.
Takeaways
The gut microbiome may play a role in cancer treatment response.
Faecal transplants can potentially improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Randomized trials are needed to establish the impact of microbiome interventions in oncology.
Animal models and avatar models are used to study the microbiome and cancer.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial in microbiome research. Animal models, such as mouse models, are useful tools in microbiome research, but they are not perfect representations of human microbiomes.
In the context of immunotherapy with tumour models, these models can recreate what happens with patients to some extent.
Germ-free mouse models are useful for studying mechanisms, but they do not represent the natural state of humans.
Avatar mouse models, which have a human microbiome, are valuable in studying the impact of the microbiome on cancer treatment.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:38 First interest in the microbiome
00:05:46 FMT for C-Diff patients
00:09:11 Using the immune system to treat cancer
00:19:03 Microbiome research for oncology
00:23:46 Journey from first study
00:27:30 Stimulating immune system with FMT
00:39:09 Chemotherapy, pancreatic cancer and the microbiome
00:48:29 Novel cell therapy and chemotherapy
00:49:02 Future of immunotherapy
00:52:32 Immune therapy response in cancer treatment
00:55:41 Antibiotics and cancer treatment