Revolutionary study: Microbiome could save lives after stem cell transplant!

Revolutionary study: Microbiome could save lives after stem cell transplant!

On May 27, 2025, Dr. med. Elisabeth Meedt and Dr. med. Erik Thiele Orberg from the University of Regensburg and the Regensburg University Hospital were awarded the research prize of the German Association for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (DAG-HSZT). The scientists receive this honor for their groundbreaking study on the role of microbial metabolites in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT).

The study, published in the journalNature Cancerin 2024, identified five microbial metabolites whose increased concentration significantly correlates with a lower incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and a lower risk of cancer recurrence. Furthermore, research shows that higher numbers of these metabolites are associated with increased overall survival rates in patients.

Innovative approaches to therapy optimization

A central result of the study is the development of an IMM risk index (IMM-RI), which acts as a predictive biomarker for the therapeutic success of stem cell transplantation. Specific bacteriophage genes that influence the production of protective metabolites are particularly important. The IMM risk index is validated as part of the MAGIC Germany consortium to check its significance.

In addition, preclinical studies were conducted to investigate the therapeutic use of the identified metabolites. The findings of this research can potentially be used for predictive risk assessment in stem cell transplantation and open up new approaches for microbiome-based precision therapies.

The DAG-HSZT research prize, which has been awarded annually since 2011 and is endowed with 5,000 euros, was presented at the 2025 annual meeting. This award not only recognizes the innovative work of Meedt and Thiele Orberg, but also highlights the importance of microbial research in the context of stem cell transplantation.

Clinical relevance of the research

The results of the study are particularly relevant with regard to acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), a serious and potentially life-threatening complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Prof. Dr. Daniela Weber, head of the clinic and polyclinic for internal medicine 3 am Regensburg University Hospital, points out that the loss of bacterial diversity in the intestine has a decisive influence on the expression of aGVHD.

An important finding of previous research is the need to detect changes in bacterial composition early in order to identify patients at risk for GvHD-related mortality. Preliminary work has shown that bacterial metabolites correlate significantly with patient survival, which lays the foundation for promising approaches to identifying new biomarkers in the blood.

In summary, the study shows that the interactions between the microbiome and therapeutic success in stem cell transplantation are not only important for medical research, but also promise practical applications for improving treatment results.