SynthesisBMC cancer2026
Modulating the gut microbiome to enhance cancer immunotherapy: a systematic review and Meta-Analysis of probiotics and FMT as adjuncts.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Gut Microbiome-Driven Strategies to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance in Microsatellite-Stable Colorectal Cancer.Cancers · 2026Review
- Enterotype-specific microbial biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor response revealed by large-scale integrated metagenomic analysis.Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII · 2026Article
- Gut metabolites: key factors in the cross-talk between the gut microbiota and tumor immunotherapy.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Clinical application of fecal microbiota transplantation and its influencing factors.Frontiers in microbiology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough the gut microbiota modulates cancer immunotherapy efficacy and interventions such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may enhance antitumor response, clinical evidence remains controversial, prompting this meta-analysis to evaluate their impact on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) outcomes.
methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, chictr.org) for relevant records up to August 2025. ORR and DCR defined as primary composite endpoints, and PFS/OS as secondary endpoints. Data were synthesized using random-effects models to calculate pooled estimates for ORR, DCR, and hazard ratios (HRs) for PFS and OS.
resultsA total of 22 studies involving 3,274 patients were included. The pooled analysis demonstrated that probiotic intervention was associated with a reduced risk of progression or death, as evidenced by improved PFS (pooled HR = 0.63, P < 0.0001) and OS (pooled HR = 0.53, P < 0.00001) in cancer patients receiving ICIs. Similarly, interventions using either probiotics or FMT were associated with an increased ORR (pooled OR = 1.62, P = 0.006) and showed a trend toward improved DCR (pooled OR = 1.74, P = 0.12).
conclusionThis meta-analysis supports that both probiotics and FMT, as adjunctive therapies, are associated with enhanced efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Probiotics, in particular, are supported by more robust evidence and demonstrate more consistent effects. Future large-scale, rigorous clinical trials are warranted to advance the development of personalized and precise microbiota-based interventions.
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Registered trials
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.