Methods and compositions for treating and diagnosing pancreatic cancers
The application relates to methods based on modulating pancreatic and/or gastrointestinal microbiota and related antifungal compositions. Specifically, the application relates to the use of microbiome for prevention, treatment and diagnosis of pancreatic cancers or tumors, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
1 . A method for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an antifungal compound or composition, wherein the antifungal compound or composition inhibits growth of one or more strains of fungi from the species Malassezia globosa in the pancreatic and/or gastrointestinal microbiota of the subject, further comprising determining the level of at least one strain of fungi from the species Malassezia globosa in the pancreatic and/or gastrointestinal microbiota of the subject, wherein the antifungal compound or composition comprises amphotericin B or fluconazole.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a functional mannose-binding lectin (MBL)-C3 convertase complement axis.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is human.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the level of the at least one strain of fungi from the species Malassezia globosa in the pancreatic and/or gastrointestinal microbiota of the subject to the level of the same fungi in a control pancreatic and/or gastrointestinal microbiota.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject displays an increase in at least one strain of fungi from the species Malassezia globosa in the pancreatic microbiota as compared to a control pancreatic microbiota.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject displays an increase in at least one strain of fungi from the species Malassezia globosa in the gastrointestinal microbiota as compared to a control gastrointestinal microbiota.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antifungal compound is administered orally or intravenously from about 0.05 mg/ml to about 10 mg/ml per day.