Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41702355›Full record

ArticleESMO open2026

Gut microbiome-driven modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment optimizes dual checkpoint blockade in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Y Katayama, A Fukuda, R Inoue, H Kawachi, R Sawada, T Harada, A Yoshimura, A Okada, S Shiotsu, Y Chihara and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ESMO open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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

20 authors.

Y KatayamaDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
A FukudaDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.
R InoueLaboratory of Animal Science, Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Japan.
H KawachiDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
R SawadaDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
T HaradaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fukuchiyama City Hospital, Fukuchiyama, Japan.
A YoshimuraDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
A OkadaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
S ShiotsuDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
Y ChiharaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Uji-Tokushukai Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.
Y TakemuraDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Otsu City Hospital, Shiga, Japan.
T YamadaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
N NishiokaDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
M IwasakuDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
S TokudaDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
T TakagiDepartment of Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
S KumagaiDivision of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.
S KoyamaDepartment of Immunogenomic Medicine, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.
K TakayamaDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
T YamadaDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: tayamada@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDual checkpoint blockade with ipilimumab plus nivolumab (I-N), with or without chemotherapy, has shown clinical efficacy for treating advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, its benefits are limited to a subset of patients. The gut microbiome influences immune responses and may impact the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, thus warranting further investigation. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis prospective study enrolled 50 patients with NSCLC who were treated with I-N, with and without chemotherapy. Gut microbiota diversity and composition were assessed from fecal samples collected before treatment initiation, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were evaluated using multiplex immunofluorescence staining. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate were analyzed alongside gut microbiota characteristics and treatment regimens.

resultsHigh gut microbiota diversity was associated with improved outcomes in patients receiving I-N alone and with greater CD8+ TIL infiltration, particularly PD-1+CD8+ TILs. Responders receiving I-N alone showed enrichment of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, which were linked to favorable metabolic pathways associated with antitumor immune responses. In contrast, the association between gut microbiota diversity and treatment efficacy was not observed in patients treated with I-N plus chemotherapy. Antibiotic use before treatment was independently associated with shorter PFS and OS across all treatment regimens.

conclusionsGut microbiota diversity and SCFA-producing bacteria are associated with improved efficacy of I-N. Baseline gut microbiota diversity may help identify patients who are more likely to have improved outcomes with I-N plus chemotherapy than with I-N alone. These findings highlight the potential of gut microbiota as a novel biomarker for dual checkpoint blockade in NSCLC may contribute to advancing personalized medicine.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungGastrointestinal MicrobiomeImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsLung NeoplasmsTumor MicroenvironmentAgedFemaleHumansIpilimumabLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMaleMiddle AgedNivolumabProspective StudiesImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsIpilimumabNivolumabantibioticsdual checkpoint blockadegut microbiomenon-small-cell lung cancer

Identifiers

PMID41702355
PMCPMC12925553

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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.