ArticleBMC gastroenterology2025
The double-edged sword: impact of antibiotic use on immunotherapy efficacy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The use of antibiotic, probiotic, and fecal microbiota transplantation in modulating immunotherapy efficacy and survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical outcomes.The oncologist · 2026Pooled it
- Early antibiotic exposure reduces progression-free survival in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with TACE plus TKI and ICI therapy: a propensity score-matched analysis.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Article
- Multi-omics analysis reveals the potential for fermentedFrontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThis retrospective study aims to evaluate the impact of antibiotics (ATBs) use on the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), providing insights into the prudent use of ATBs in patients undergoing immunotherapy.
methodsWe retrospectively collected data from patients with advanced HCC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) at our institution between January 1, 2021, and December 30, 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on ATBs use: an ATB group and a non-ATB group. Clinical baseline characteristics were analyzed, and survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier model. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to analyze influencing factors.
resultsAmong the 102 advanced HCC patients receiving ICIs treatment, 29 were in the ATB group, and 73 were in the non-ATB group. The progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.034) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.021) were significantly shorter in the ATB group compared to the non-ATB group. The difference in PFS between the two groups was associated with ATBs use and patients' AFP levels, while ATBs use was identified as an independent risk factor for the difference in OS between the groups.
conclusionATB use in the context of immunotherapy for advanced HCC is associated with reduced PFS and OS. Caution is warranted in the administration of ATBs to patients undergoing immunotherapy.
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