Abstract

The gut microbiota is composed of commensal bacteria and other microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract. The gut microbiome plays a significant role in orchestrating human homeostasis via modulation of key steps involving metabolism, inflammation and probably the most important of all, immunity. As far as renal carcinoma is concerned, the diversity of the gut microbiome is a vital risk factor in the onset and progression of renal cancer. Since probiotics have the potential to positively amend the composition of gut microbiota, they have gained increasing medical significance. The development of targeted immunotherapies has changed the scenario of clinical management of renal carcinoma, but their use has been hampered by increased host refractoriness and adverse effects. Recent studies show that gut microbiota is involved in modulating the response to immunotherapy and the host's susceptibility to dose-limiting adverse effects. Hence, manipulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics is fast emerging as a feasible mechanism to improve responsiveness to immunotherapy. In this chapter, we discuss the available evidence of the potential role of modulation of microbiota by probiotics in the management of renal carcinoma.