Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG enhances gefitinib efficacy and reduces treatment-related toxicity via propionyl-L-carnitine regulation.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG boosts gefitinib efficacy by 40% and reduces gastrointestinal and hepatic toxicity in non-small cell lung cancer models.

• Why it matters: Improving gefitinib's effectiveness while minimizing its adverse effects addresses a critical challenge in long-term cancer therapy, potentially enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.
• What they did: Researchers tested probiotic strains and identified LGG as the most effective, analyzing its impact through metabolomics, organ-on-a-chip models, and metabolic profiling, focusing on propionyl-L-carnitine.
• The result: LGG treatment enhances antitumor effects and reduces toxicity without affecting drug levels, suggesting a microbiota-based approach to optimize gefitinib therapy and mitigate side effects.