5.1. Cyclophosphamide (CTX)

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is an alkylating agent commonly used in combination with other therapies to target cancer cells.

The importance of gut microbiota in efficacy of the treatment is sustained by studies involving germ-free (GF) mice and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice with transplantable MCA205 sarcomas. A significant decrease effect of the CTX treatment was obtained in case of GF animals in comparison with SPF mice [22].

Similar effects comparing to untreated control groups were obtained in case of the animal treatment with vancomycin A, an antibiotic that destroys the gram-positive bacteria. The results indicate that the presence of some bacteria creates an immunologic local environment essential for the therapeutic effect of CTX [39].
