Evidence mapPaperPMID 41799504Full record

SynthesisOncology research2026

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Clinical Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review (2020-2025).

Iara Santos, Joana Liberal, Paulo Teixeira, Diana Martins, Fernando Mendes

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Oncology research, 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

5 authors.

Iara SantosCoimbra Health School (ESTeSC), Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3046-854, Portugal.
Joana LiberalCoimbra Health School (ESTeSC), Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3046-854, Portugal.
Paulo TeixeiraCoimbra Health School (ESTeSC), Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3046-854, Portugal.
Diana MartinsCoimbra Health School (ESTeSC), Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3046-854, Portugal.
Fernando MendesCoimbra Health School (ESTeSC), Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3046-854, Portugal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The Colorectal Cancer (CRC) pathogenesis and therapeutic efficacy are influenced by the gut microbiome, making it a promising biomarker for predicting treatment responses and adverse effects. This systematic review aims to outline the gut microbiome composition in individuals with CRC undergoing the same therapeutic regimen and evaluate interindividual microbiome profile variations to better understand how these differences may influence therapeutic outcomes. Methods: Key studies investigating the microbiome's role in therapeutic approaches for CRC were searched in both PubMed and Cochrane databases on 12 and 22 March 2025, respectively. Eligible studies included free full-text English-language randomized clinical trials and human observational studies reporting on gut microbiome composition and treatment outcomes. RoB 2 and ROBINS-I were employed in the evaluation of bias for randomized trials and observational studies, respectively. Data extracted was narratively analyzed. Results: Six studies involving a total of 361 individuals were included. Therapeutic interventions, either standard treatments and/or those targeting the gut microbiome, generally increased probiotic taxa and reduced pro-carcinogenic bacteria. However, no consistent pattern of improved clinical outcomes was observed, suggesting that treatment mechanisms, the tumor's nature, and individual characteristics play critical roles in microbiome modulation. Conclusion: The gut microbiome holds significant potential in clinical settings. Nonetheless, further research is needed to better understand its functional aspects and to consider the influence of treatment mechanisms, the tumor's nature, and individual characteristics as modulators, in order to optimize clinical outcomes.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansProbioticsTreatment OutcomeColorectal neoplasmsdrug therapygastrointestinal microbiomehost microbial interactionssystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41799504
PMCPMC12963652

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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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 Socratic graph.