Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40559436›Full record

ReviewMetabolites2025

Gut-Microbiome Signatures Predicting Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Ielmina Domilescu, Bogdan Miutescu, Florin George Horhat, Alina Popescu, Camelia Nica, Ana Maria Ghiuchici, Eyad Gadour, Ioan Sîrbu, Delia Hutanu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Metabolites, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ielmina DomilescuDoctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Bogdan MiutescuDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-5336-5789
Florin George HorhatDepartment of Microbiology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-6133-0204
Alina PopescuDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Camelia NicaDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Ana Maria GhiuchiciDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Eyad GadourMulti-Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence, Liver Transplantation Unit, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam 32253, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-5087-1611
Ioan SîrbuDepartment of Oral Implantology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 050474 Bucharest, Romania.
Delia HutanuBiology Department, Chemistry-Biology-Geography Faculty, West University of Timisoara, 300115 Timisoara, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesRectal cancer management increasingly relies on watch-and-wait strategies after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Accurate, non-invasive prediction of pathological complete response (pCR) remains elusive. Emerging evidence suggests that gut-microbiome composition modulates radio-chemosensitivity. We systematically reviewed primary studies that correlated baseline or on-treatment gut-microbiome features with nCRT response in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

methodsMEDLINE, Embase and PubMed were searched from inception to 30 April 2025. Eligibility required (i) prospective or retrospective human studies of LARC, (ii) faecal or mucosal microbiome profiling by 16S, metagenomics, or metatranscriptomics, and (iii) response assessment using tumour-regression grade or pCR. Narrative synthesis and random-effects proportion meta-analysis were performed where data were homogeneous.

resultsTwelve studies (n = 1354 unique patients, median sample = 73, range 22-735) met inclusion. Four independent machine-learning models achieved an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve AUROC ≥ 0.85 for pCR prediction. Consistently enriched taxa in responders included

conclusionsDespite heterogeneity, convergent functional and taxonomic signals underpin a microbiome-based radiosensitivity axis in LARC. Multi-centre validation cohorts and intervention trials manipulating these taxa, such as prebiotics or live-biotherapeutics, are warranted before clinical deployment.

Indexed as

chemoradiotherapygut microbiomemetagenomicspathologic complete responsepredictive biomarkerrectal cancer

Identifiers

PMID40559436
PMCPMC12195113

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.