My research explored how the tiny organisms living in our digestive systems called the gut microbiome affect the development and treatment of cancer through a communication system known as the gut-brain axis. This axis is the way our gut and brain send messages to each other using nerves, hormones, and immune signals.
Scientists have recently discovered that the health and balance of these gut microbes may not only affect our digestion and mental health but also influence cancer growth, response to therapy, and even survival rates. I focused on several types of cancer, including gastrointestinal, brain, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. I analyzed over 100 studies to understand how disruptions in the gut microbiome (known as dysbiosis) are linked to tumor development. For example, harmful bacteria can produce toxins that promote inflammation and tumor growth, while helpful bacteria may boost the body’s immune response or improve the effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. One of the most exciting findings was that personalized treatment tailored to a patient’s specific microbiome could lead to better results in fighting cancer. In other words, understanding a patient’s gut microbiota might help doctors choose the most effective treatments. Some studies even showed that modifying the gut microbiome with probiotics, diet, or fecal transplants could improve treatment success.
I’ve always been fascinated by the connections between the body’s systems especially how something as "small" as bacteria could influence something as serious as cancer. I was drawn to this topic because it bridges biology, medicine, and even mental health. The more I read about the gut-brain axis and the microbiome, the more I realized how central this topic is to understanding modern disease. I also have a personal motivation: several family members have battled cancer, and I wanted to contribute to an area that might help improve care and outcomes in the future.
At first, I thought the capstone would mostly involve summarizing articles and writing a long paper. I underestimated the amount of critical thinking it required—especially when comparing studies with different methods or drawing conclusions from conflicting results. It wasn’t just about collecting information; it was about understanding patterns, questioning assumptions, and synthesizing new insights. That part was more difficult than I expected but also more rewarding.
The most challenging part was narrowing down the scope. The gut microbiome is connected to almost every part of health, and cancer is already such a complex disease. It was easy to get overwhelmed by the volume of research. Creating a structured methodology and sticking to my inclusion/exclusion criteria helped me stay focused. One of the easier (and more enjoyable) parts was presenting the material visually, designing charts and thematic summaries. I found that these visuals helped clarify patterns and communicate my findings more effectively. I was surprised by how fast this field is evolving. Some studies I found were already outdated after just a few years, replaced by newer, more advanced research using artificial intelligence to predict patient responses based on their microbiomes.
In the future, I’d like to explore how diet and lifestyle changes can be used alongside medical treatments to optimize the gut microbiome for cancer patients. I’m also curious about how the microbiome affects pediatric cancer and survivorship. Another promising area is the integration of machine learning to predict treatment outcomes based on a person’s microbiome profile. These tools could one day help doctors create highly personalized cancer therapies.
This research taught me how to critically evaluate scientific evidence and stay organized when working with a large number of sources. More importantly, it showed me that science is never static it’s a living conversation with new voices and discoveries all the time. I now feel more confident in my ability to take on complex problems and contribute to ongoing scientific questions. I’m leaving this experience with a deeper understanding of how biology, medicine, and technology come together and with a renewed motivation to pursue graduate studies in the health sciences.
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