SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2025
Evaluation of the efficacy of probiotics in the chemoradiotherapy of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in BMC gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Gut microbiota-associated predictors as biomarkers of neoadjuvant treatment response in rectal cancer-a systematic review.British journal of cancer · 2026Pooled it
- Probiotics in colorectal cancer: mechanisms, biomarkers, and adjunct strategies.Cancer biology & medicine · 2026Review
- The Role of Next-Generation Probiotics in Colorectal Cancer Pathways: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Review
- The Potential Anticancer Mechanisms of Probiotics: A Comprehensive Review.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Review
- Citraconic acid mitigates radiation-induced intestinal injury by modulating IL-17 signaling to enhance epithelial regeneration.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Article
- The therapeutic potential ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2026Review
- Probiotics for Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Cancer: A Systematic Review of Animal and Human Studies with Mechanistic Insights.Microorganisms · 2025Review
- Microbiome dysbiosis and chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).NPJ biofilms and microbiomes · 2025Review
- Unlocking the Potential of Nutraceuticals in Cancer Chemotherapy: A Comprehensive Review.Cureus · 2025Review
- Gut-Microbiome Signatures Predicting Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.Metabolites · 2025Review
- Probiotics and quality of life improvement in cancer therapy.Bioinformation · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveWe undertook this study to assess the efficacy of probiotics in managing adverse reactions during chemoradiotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.
methodA comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, Cochrane library,Web of Science, and Chinese databases until July 27, 2024. Data analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 statistical software. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration tool. Relative risk (RR) was employed to incorporate statistical measures and calculate 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for bipartite data. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was utilized to incorporate statistical measures and calculate 95% confidence intervals for continuous variables.
resultsA meta-analysis of 633 patients with colorectal cancer was conducted across eight studies. In comparison to the control group, probiotics demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of chemoradiotherapy-induced diarrhea among colorectal cancer patients(RR = 0.51,95%Cl:0.38 ~ 0.68,P < 0.001). Additionally, probiotic usage exhibited improvements in pain index (SMD = -2.27,95%Cl: -4.49 ~ -0.05,P = 0.04), dyspnea (SMD = -0.92,95%Cl: -1.61 ~ 0.22, P = 0.01) and insomnia (SMD = -2.95, 95%Cl: -5.44 ~ -0.47, P = 0.02) compared to the control group. However, there were no significant differences between two groups in abdominal distension(RR = 0.79, 95%Cl:0.21 ~ 3.00, P = 0.72), stomatitis risk (RR = 1.23, 95%Cl: 0.48 ~ 3.21, P = 0.67), fatigue (SMD = -7.12, 95%Cl:-14.99 ~ 0.75, P = 0.08)and loss of appetite(SMD = -2.86, 95%Cl: -5.83 ~ 0.11, P = 0.06). Furthermore, the use of probiotics did not significantly improve the quality of life (QOL) (SMD = 8.82, 95%Cl: -1.11 ~ 18.75, P = 0.08)of colorectal cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy.
conclusionsThis meta-analysis suggested that probiotic consumption may ameliorate certain adverse reactions in patients with colorectal cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS: Prospero registration number: PROSPERO (CRD42023465966).
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
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 Socratic graph.