Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42712978›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in immunology2026

Microbiome-host interactions in locally advanced cervical cancer: the impact on chemoradiotherapy treatment outcomes and toxicity.

Helena C J Schellekens, Bob J R Bindels, Irene Regueiro Zapico, Servaas A Morré, Evert J van Limbergen, Edith M G van Esch, John Penders, Peggy J de Vos van Steenwijk

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Helena C J SchellekensDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands.
Bob J R BindelsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VieCuri Medical Centre, Venlo, Netherlands.
Irene Regueiro ZapicoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands.
Servaas A MorréGROW - Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Evert J van LimbergenDepartment of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands.
Edith M G van EschDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
John PendersDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands.
Peggy J de Vos van SteenwijkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), Maastricht, Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide, and treatment of locally advanced disease is often associated with substantial toxicity that negatively affects the quality of life. Therefore, strategies aimed at improving survival while minimizing treatment-related side effects are essential. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut and vaginal microbiomes influence cervical carcinogenesis, treatment response, and treatment-related adverse effects. This narrative review aims to summarize current evidence regarding the role of the gut and vaginal microbiomes in locally advanced cervical cancer and explores their potential clinical implications, including interactions with immunological mechanisms. Dysbiosis has been associated with chronic inflammation, impaired antitumor immune responses, reduced treatment efficacy, and increased toxicity, whereas a beneficial microbial composition appears to support improved therapeutic outcomes and reduced toxicity. In addition, microbiome-targeted interventions, including probiotics, show promise in modulating microbial composition, optimizing treatment outcomes, and mitigating treatment-related toxicity. Longitudinal studies integrating analyses of both the gut and vaginal microbiomes with immune infiltrates, patient-reported outcomes, and clinical treatment results are essential to clarify the therapeutic potential of microbiome-targeted interventions in personalized cervical cancer care. Particular attention should be given to interactions between the microbiome and immunotherapy, as immune checkpoint inhibitors are increasingly being incorporated into treatment strategies for locally advanced disease.

Indexed as

ChemoradiotherapyGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHost Microbial InteractionsMicrobiotaUterine Cervical NeoplasmsAnimalsDysbiosisFemaleHumansTreatment OutcomeVaginachemoradiotherapyimmune microenvironmentlocally advanced cervical cancermicrobiomemicrobiome-targeted interventionstoxicity

Identifiers

PMID42712978
PMCPMC13551732

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.