Gut Microbiome Profiling for Personalized Lymphoma Treatment Response

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cancer treatments do not effectively consider the influence of the gut microbiome on treatment response and outcomes in lymphoma patients, leading to variable survival rates and treatment effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Assessing the gut microbiome of lymphoma patients to identify levels of Fusobacteria, Akkermansia, and Barnesiellaceae, and administering targeted interventions such as antibiotics or probiotics to modify these microbial populations to improve treatment outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cancer treatments are used without considering gut microbiome composition, then treatment protocols are simple and easy to administer, but treatment response varies significantly and outcomes are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment response consistencyVSAvoidtreatment assessment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs gut microbiome assessment before initiating cancer treatment to identify patients who are likely to respond well to specific therapies. This preliminary characterization of microbial composition (particularly Fusobacteria levels) allows clinicians to select appropriate treatments in advance, ensuring treatment response consistency before variability can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback loop where gut microbiome composition is measured, treatment decisions are made based on these measurements, and treatment response is monitored. This feedback mechanism allows for personalized treatment adjustments, improving reliability by continuously aligning treatment choices with the patient's microbial profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If gut microbiome analysis is integrated into cancer treatment selection, then personalized treatment strategies improve survival outcomes, but additional testing and treatment complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecancer-free survival rateVSAvoidtime for microbiome assessment and treatment planning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs gut microbiome assessment before initiating cancer treatment to identify patients who are likely to respond well to specific therapies. This preliminary characterization of microbial composition (particularly Fusobacteria levels) allows clinicians to select appropriate treatments in advance, ensuring treatment response consistency before variability can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses specific microbial parameters (Fusobacteria abundance, Akkermansia levels, Barnesiellaceae composition) as biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. By focusing on these specific measurable parameters rather than comprehensive microbiome analysis, the patent reduces assessment time while maintaining improved survival outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If targeted probiotic or antibiotic interventions are used to modify gut microbiome composition, then treatment effectiveness improves, but treatment protocols become more complex and require precise microbial population management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment administration simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies targeted probiotic or antibiotic interventions specifically to modify particular microbial populations (increasing Akkermansia and Barnesiellaceae, reducing Fusobacteria) rather than attempting to redesign the entire microbiome. This localized approach improves treatment effectiveness by focusing on key microbial players while keeping the overall treatment protocol manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses specific microbial parameters (Fusobacteria abundance, Akkermansia levels, Barnesiellaceae composition) as biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. By focusing on these specific measurable parameters rather than comprehensive microbiome analysis, the patent reduces assessment time while maintaining improved survival outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260041719A1Gut microbiomes and assessing and treating cancer

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH

AI summary

This document relates to methods and materials involved in assessing and/or treating a mammal having cancer (e.g., lymphoma). For example, methods and materials that can be used to determine if a mammal (e.g., a human) having cancer (e.g., lymphoma) is likely to respond to or has a cancer or a gut microbiome that makes that mammal more responsive to a particular cancer treatment are provided. Methods and materials for treating a mammal having cancer (e.g., lymphoma) are also provided.