A high-fibre diet-derived microbial polyphenol metabolite boosts T-cell stemness in cancer immunotherapy

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Skip to main contentNews & ViewsPublished: 10 August 2026Cancer immunotherapyAnni A. Zhang1,2 &Ian A. Parish  ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3528-478X1,2 Nature Nanotechnology (2026) Cite this articleSave articleView saved research3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), a molecule produced by the gut microbiota from dietary fibre, promotes T cell stemness and boosts the anti-tumour efficacy of immunotherapies in multiple mouse tumour models.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess options Access through your institutionAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 print issues and online access269,00 € per yearonly 22,42 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article typefrom$1.95to$39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutFig. 1: Fibre-derived DHB boosts T cell stemness and ICB efficacy.ReferencesNobels, A., van Marcke, C., Jordan, B. F., Van Hul, M. & Cani, P. D. Nat. Metab. 7, 895–917 (2025).Article  PubMed  Google Scholar Han, K. et al. Nat. Nanotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-026-02235-9 (2026).Article  PubMed  Google Scholar Gebhardt, T., Park, S. L. & Parish, I. A. Nat. Rev. Cancer 23, 780–798 (2023).Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar Bachem, A. et al. Immunity 51, 285–297 (2019).Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar Bachem, A. et al. Immunity 58, 2799–2813 (2025).Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar Han, K. et al. Nat Biomed. Eng 5, 1377–1388 (2021).Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar Wilfahrt, D. & Delgoffe, G. M. Nat. Immunol. 25, 206–217 (2024).Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar Araki, K. et al. Nature 460, 108–112 (2009).Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar Han, P. et al. Cell Metab. 37, 2438–2454 (2025).Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar Mak, T. W. et al. Immunity 46, 675–689 (2017).Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaAnni A. Zhang & Ian A. ParishSir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaAnni A. Zhang & Ian A. ParishAuthorsAnni A. ZhangView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarIan A. ParishView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Ian A. Parish.Ethics declarationsRights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article