1111-Dietary sulfur amino acids enhance anti-tumor immunity

This research demonstrates that dietary sulfur amino acids (Saa) significantly bolster anti-tumor immunity in colon cancer by modulating the gut microbiome. Through a meta-analysis of human data and experiments in mouse models, the authors found that a high-Saa diet induces a bloom of the mucus-dwelling bacterium Mucispirillum schaedleri. This microbial expansion triggers natural killer T (NKT) cells to secrete the chemokine XCL1, which is essential for recruiting and activating type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s). These activated dendritic cells then enhance the presence of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells within tumors, effectively restricting cancer progression. Ultimately, the study suggests that specific nutritional interventions can be leveraged to overcome resistance to immunotherapy in patients with colon cancer.

References:

• Lobel L, Fonseca-Pereira D, Nakatsu G, et al. Dietary sulfur amino acids enhance anti-tumor immunity in colon cancer via an NKT cell-XCL1-cDC1 circuit[J]. Immunity, 2026.