We explore how microbes influence tumor initiation, progression, and response to treatments. We seek to utilize the microbiome as both a clinical biomarker and a therapeutic target to improve patient outcomes.
- Which microbes predict treatment outcomes? Clinical discovery
- Can changing the microbiome improve cancer therapy? Microbiome intervention
- How do microbes affect tumors and immunity? Mechanistic discovery
Clinical discovery
We investigate how host-associated microbial communities interact with the immune system to influence cancer treatment efficacy and toxicity, with a focus on specific patient populations.
Featured project
The impact of gut microbiome and probiotics on chemotherapy response in ovarian cancer patients
We combine prospective gut microbiome sampling with preclinical models to identify microbes associated with chemotherapy response and resistance in ovarian cancer and assess whether probiotics can alter outcomes.
Funding and investigators
Explore 1 more project in clinical discovery
The Ohio State University Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (OSU-TCORS)
As part of a larger initiative to support FDA regulation of nicotine products, this sub-project explores the effects of new nicotine-containing products on the oral microbiome and host markers of inflammation.
Microbiome intervention
We conduct clinical trials and intervention studies to determine if altering the microbiome through diet, supplements, or lifestyle changes can enhance treatment response.
Featured projects
Lifestyle-based microbiome modification in older adults to promote response to immunotherapy
Supported by the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award, this project investigates how exercise-induced changes to the microbiome could improve response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in older adults. It connects lifestyle-based microbiome intervention with discovery of the causal mechanisms linking microbes to immunotherapy response.
PRO-PLATINUM: Modulating the microbiome to transform platinum-based care in ovarian cancer
The PRO-PLATINUM trial tests whether probiotic supplementation during platinum-based chemotherapy can improve ovarian cancer outcomes by altering the gut and vaginal microbiomes.
Funding and investigators
Explore 1 more project in microbiome intervention
Probiotic and dietary fiber supplementation to potentiate immunotherapy response in cervical cancer
This project examines how beneficial gut bacteria and dietary fiber work together to improve response to immunotherapy in cervical cancer. Mechanistic studies will inform future trials of diet- and microbiome-based interventions.
Mechanistic discovery
We utilize mouse models, spatial transcriptomics, and advanced culture techniques to establish causality and map the molecular mechanisms linking microbes to cancer biology.
Our American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award project also advances this work by investigating the causal mechanisms through which exercise-induced microbiome changes affect response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. These mechanistic studies connect our discovery work to lifestyle-based interventions for older adults.
Featured project
Lachnospiraceae characterization to improve cancer treatment outcomes through diet
We identify and isolate Lachnospiraceae genes associated with tumor reduction and test how these microbes and their metabolites affect immune checkpoint blockade response in preclinical mouse models. The goal is to identify potential biotherapeutic targets that support diet-mediated improvements in cancer treatment.
Funding and investigators
Explore 2 more projects in mechanistic discovery
Spatial association of tumor microbes and the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer subtypes
Utilizing spatial transcriptomics and in situ hybridization, this project maps the location of intratumoral microbes relative to specific tumor microenvironment features across different breast cancer subtypes.
Prevention of Cancer Cachexia by Dietary Naringenin: Impact on the Gut-Brain Axis
This study explores the mechanism by which dietary naringenin affects the gut-brain axis to prevent cancer cachexia in model systems.
Past awards
Browse 30 past awards
| Project | Funding source | Period | PI / role |
|---|---|---|---|
| The microbiome in older adults with lung cancer: association of treatment regimens and diet with protective microbial profiles | NIH-National Institutes on Aging (K01AG070310) | 2021-07-01 – 2026-06-30 | PI: Spakowicz |
| Social determinants of health and race effects on the microbiome and gastro-intestinal toxicity in colorectal cancer | Oncology Nursing Foundation | 2024-01-01 – 2024-12-31 | PI: Han (Role: Co-I) |
| The Impact of Area Deprivation Index on Clinical Outcomes for Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer | NCCN/AstraZeneca | 2023-01-01 – 2024-12-31 | PI: Alamadi (Role: Co-I) |
| Vaginal DHEA for Women with Gynecologic and Gastrointestinal Cancer After Radiation | Radiation Oncology Departmental Seed Grant | 2025-05-01 – 2026-04-30 | PIs: Quick and Pitter (Role: Co-I) |
| The Vaginal Microbiome as a Biomarker of Vaginal Health in Women with Breast Cancer | The Oncology Nursing Foundation | 2022-10-01 – 2024-09-30 | PI: Arthur (Role: Co-I) |
| LiveWellLung: A Prehabilitation Education and Intervention Program Prior to Lung Cancer Surgery | Bristol Myers Squibb FastTrack Program | 2024-12-13 – 2025-02-11 | PI: Presley (Role: Co-I) |
| Investigation of Age-Specific Effects of Indole Supplementation on Immune Function and irAE Development | CCC Transitional Therapeutics Seed Award | 2024-11-01 – 2025-12-31 | PIs: Verschraegen, Spakowicz, Presley, Burd |
| Next-Generation Culturomics: Cultivation of uncultured gut microbes | Air Force Research Lab | 2024-04-01 – 2025-03-31 | PIs: Spakowicz, Bradley, Zhu |
| Adenosine as a mediator of tumor and tumor-microbe interactions in non-small cell lung cancer | American Lung Association Innovator Award | 2023-07-01 – 2025-06-30 | PI: Spakowicz |
| Targeting immunosuppressive adenosine in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer | NIH-NCI (1R01CA248741-01A1) | 2021-02-01 – 2026-01-31 | PIs: Carbone, Dikov (Role: Co-I) |
| Role of the inflammatory dietary pattern in gut and colon tissue microbiomes | National Cancer Institute (R21CA294050) | 2024-07-01 – 2026-06-30 | PI: Tabung (Role: Co-I) |
| Spatial association of tumor microbes and the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer subtypes — pilot award | OSU CCC Breast Cancer Translational Research Program | 2024-10-01 – 2025-02 (day unspecified) | Spakowicz/Jhawar (Co-PIs) |
| Dietary interventions to modify the response to immunotherapy (NutriCare) | Pelotonia Population Health Award | 2022-01-01 – 2023-12-31 | Spakowicz/Zhu (Co-PI) |
| The sarcoma tumor microbiome as a therapeutic target | Sarcoma Foundation of America | 2022-07-01 – 2023-06-30 | Spakowicz (Co-PI) |
| Circulating microbial DNA as a non-invasive biomarker for colorectal cancer | OSU Dept of Internal Medicine | 2021-07-01 – 2023-06-30 | Malalur/Spakowicz (Co-PI) |
| The vaginal microbiome as a biomarker of pelvic health following radiation | Pelotonia Clinical Trial Award | 2021-01-01 – 2023-12-31 | Spakowicz/Arthur (Co-PI) |
| BEFIT: An exercise intervention study in a cohort at high risk for developing lung cancer | American Lung Association | 2022-07-01 – 2024-06-30 | Bittoni (Co-I) |
| Increasing response to immunotherapy through diet-based alterations of the microbiome | Nye-Rayden Cancer Research Award | 2020-07-01 – 2022-06-30 | Spakowicz (PI) |
| Evaluating modifiable biomarkers for the prediction of immunotherapy response | LCFA-BMS/ILC Young Investigator Award | 2020-01-01 – 2022-06-30 | Spakowicz (PI) |
| Epigenetic Landscape and Correlation with Microbiome in Early Onset CRC | OSU Dept of Biomedical Informatics | 2020-08-01 – 2021-07-31 | Mo (Co-I) |
| Preliminary studies of the vaginal microbiome as a biomarker of pelvic health | OSU CCC Intramural Research Program | 2020-11-01 – 2021-05-31 | Spakowicz (Co-PI) |
| The Effect of the Microbiome on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in Melanoma | Pelotonia New Investigator Award | 2019-01-01 – 2020-12-31 | Spakowicz (PI) |
| Pilot study of a novel black raspberry food product in a high-risk lung cancer cohort | Pelotonia Clinical Trial Award | 2019-01-01 – 2020-12-31 | Spakowicz (Co-PI) |
| Longitudinal analysis of Vitamin A on stool microbiota post-HSCT | OSU Hematology Dept Research Funds | 2019-01-01 – 2020-12-31 | Choe/Spakowicz (Co-PI) |
| Food Products for the Targeted Enrichment of Gut Microbes | OSU Foods for Health Seed Grant | 2019-09-01 – 2020-08-31 | Zhu/Spakowicz/Ma (Co-PIs) |
| Exogenous sequences in unmapped transcriptome data from the ORIEN consortium | CCTS Pilot Translational Program | 2019-12-14 – 2020-05-31 | Spakowicz/Mo (Co-PIs) |
| The Aging Immune System, Treatment Response, and Functional Decline | OSU CCTS Davis Bremmer Award; Pelotonia New Investigator Award | 2018-07-01 – 2020-06-30 | Presley (Co-I) |
| Epigenetic landscape and correlation with microbiome in early onset colorectal cancer — Medical Oncology seed award | OSU Division of Medical Oncology | 2020-07-01 – 2022-06-30 | Jin/Spakowicz (Co-PIs) |
| OSU K12 Training Grant for Clinical Faculty Investigators | NCI (2K12CA133250-06A1) | 2019-07-02 – 2020-06-30 | Byrd (PI); Presley (Awardee); Spakowicz (Co-I) |
| Resiliency Among Older Adults Receiving Lung Cancer Treatment (ROAR-LCT) | NIH-NIA (R03 AG064374-01) | 2019–2021 | Presley (PI) |
Selected publications
Browse selected publications
Liu, C.C., Grencewicz, D., Chakravarthy, K. et al. (2026). Breast tumor microbiome regulates anti-tumor immunity and T cell-associated metabolites. Scientific Reports, 16, 17587.
Chambers, L.M., Spakowicz, D., Chalif, J. et al. (2026). PRO-PLATINUM: A randomized trial of a probiotic intervention during platinum chemotherapy. Gynecologic Oncology, 211, 74–78.
Li, Y., Ma, A., Johnson, E. et al. (2025). The new microbiome on the block: challenges and opportunities of using human tumor sequencing data to study microbes. Nature Methods, 22, 1788–1799.
Shantaram, D., Hoyd, R., Blaszczak, A.M. et al. (2024). Obesity-associated microbiomes instigate visceral adipose tissue inflammation by recruitment of distinct neutrophils. Nature Communications, 15(1), 5434.
Zhou, X., Shen, X., Johnson, J.S., Spakowicz, D.J. et al. (2024). Longitudinal profiling of the microbiome at four body sites reveals core stability and individualized dynamics during health and disease. Cell Host & Microbe, 32(4), 506-526.e9.
Qin, A., Zhao, S., … Spakowicz, D.J. et al. (2021). Bone metastases, skeletal-related events, and survival in patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 19(8), 915-921.
Spakowicz, D., Hoyd, R., et al. (2020). Inferring the role of the microbiome on survival in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: causal modeling, timing, and classes of concomitant medications. BMC Cancer, 20(1), 383.
Johnson, J.S., Spakowicz, D.J., et al. (2019). Evaluation of 16S rRNA gene sequencing for species and strain-level microbiome analysis. Nature Communications, 10(1), 5029.
Li, M., Spakowicz, D., et al. (2019). Change in neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio during immunotherapy treatment is a non-linear predictor of patient outcomes in advanced cancers. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 145(10), 2541-2546.
The Integrative Human Microbiome Project Consortium. (2019). The Integrative Human Microbiome Project. Nature, 569, 641-648.