DiAMonD – DIscovering Active MicroOrgaNisms implicated in adverse Drug effects

The microbiome plays relevant functions on human health and disease, including roles in the efficacy and security of drug treatments. Capecitabine is a pro-drug of 5-fluorouracil, which is an active metabolite that targets tumor cells. This treatment is used for diverse cancers, including colon tumors, and is commonly associated with diverse adverse reactions such as the hand-foot syndrome (HFS), a skin deterioration for which there has not been discovered its causal mechanism. Preliminary data suggest that some skin microbes interact with 5-flourouracil.

In this project, the researcher will focus on studying the dynamics and features of the skin microbiome of patients treated with capecitabine. This project will provide understanding related with the roles of the skin microbiome in the appearance or protection against a skin adverse drug reaction. This knowledge may be used for the advance of a precise and personalized medicine in which the individual microbiome can be considered.