Evidence mapPaperPMID 40533779Full record

SynthesisJournal of translational medicine2025

Effects of antibiotic exposure on risks of colorectal tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yi-Cheng Liu, Xiang-Yi Tang, Ji-Xuan Lang, Yue Qiu, Ye Chen, Xin-Yun Li, Yu Cao, Chun-Dong Zhang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of translational medicine, 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. Article
  2. Review
  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

8 authors.

Yi-Cheng Liu *Clinical Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
Xiang-Yi Tang *Clinical Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
Ji-Xuan LangDepartment of Surgical Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
Yue QiuDepartment of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China.
Ye ChenDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Xin-Yun LiClinical Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
Yu CaoDepartment of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China. caoyu@cmu.edu.cn.
Chun-Dong ZhangDepartment of Surgical Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China. cdzhang@cmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-1804-1356

Funding

the Scientific Study Project for Institutes of Higher Learning, Ministry of Education, Liaoning Province JYTMS20230108the Scientific Study Project for Institutes of Higher Learning, Ministry of Education, Liaoning Province LTKMZ20221139the Young Backbone Talents of China Medical University RXXM202302
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may play an important role in the development of colorectal tumors. Antibiotic use can affect the gut microbiome and may increase the risks of benign and malignant colorectal tumors.

methodsEligible studies assessing the relationship between antibiotic exposure and the risk of developing benign or malignant colorectal tumors were identified. Odds ratios (ORs) were pooled for antibiotic use versus no use using a random-effects model. Further subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to confirm the consistence and robustness of the main findings. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO.

resultsTwenty-three studies including 1,145,853 participants were finally included in the analysis. People who had used antibiotics had a 13% increased risk of colorectal tumors compared with those who had never used antibiotics [OR: 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.22; P < 0.01]. Subgroup analysis showed that antibiotic exposure was associated with increased risks of both benign (OR: 1.13; 95% CI 1.00-1.27; P < 0.01) and malignant colorectal tumors (OR: 1.13; 95% CI 1.03-1.23; P < 0.01). In addition, colorectal tumor risk was significantly increased by antibiotic exposure, especially the use of combined antibiotics and a longer period after antibiotic exposure. The main findings were consistent and robust across most subgroups and sensitivity analyses.

conclusionsThe current findings suggested that antibiotic use increased the risk of developing benign or malignant colorectal tumors. These results highlighted the need for clinicians to prescribe antibiotics cautiously, to reduce colorectal cancer risk.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsColorectal NeoplasmsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansOdds RatioPublication BiasRisk FactorsAnti-Bacterial AgentsAntibiotic exposureBenign and malignant tumorCancer riskColorectal tumor

Identifiers

PMID40533779
PMCPMC12178024

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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 Socratic graph.