Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41844942›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2026

Impact of microbiome-modulating strategies in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy (MSIT): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

May Soe Thu, Ho Bao Chau Le, Nguyen Phuc Duc, Van Hieu Mai, Nina Walker, Nattiya Hirankarn

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

6 authors.

May Soe ThuCenter of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Ho Bao Chau LeCenter of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Nguyen Phuc DucCenter of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Van Hieu MaiGraduate Program in Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Nina WalkerMaster Program of Biological Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZX, UK.
Nattiya HirankarnCenter of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand. Nattiya.H@chula.ac.th.

Funding

National Research Council of Thailand N42A680423
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The gut microbiota influences immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) efficacy. Microbiome-modulating strategies (MMSs), including probiotics, synbiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), have emerged as promising adjuncts, but their clinical impact remains uncertain. We systematically reviewed PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL to February 2025 for clinical cohorts evaluating MMS in cancer patients receiving ICIs. Thirty-six studies (25 trials/cohorts; n = 2,746) were included. Meta-analyses, and subgroup analyses were performed for efficacy along with microbiome shifts and safety. MMS plus ICIs achieved a pooled objective response rate (ORR) of 40% (95% CI: 31%-49%; I² = 63.4%; p = 0.0003; 95% PI: 15%-72%). Descriptive proportions showed ORR of 45% (95% CI: 32%-58%; I² = 72.5%; p = 0.0058) for probiotics and 33% (95% CI: 22%-48%; I² = 60.7%; p = 0.0064) for FMT; however, these findings are non-comparative and confounded by study differences. Exploratory subgroup signals were noted for probiotics in NSCLC (ORR 55%; 95%CI: 45%-64%; I² = 0%; p = 0.3683) and FMT in melanoma (ORR 39%; 95% CI: 15%-69%; I² = 72.5%; p = 0.0262). Dual ICI regimens showed the highest point estimate for ORR (43%; 95% CI: 17%-73%; I² = 68.5%; p = 0.0747) but increased toxicity. Microbiome analyses revealed enrichment of short-chain fatty acid-producing taxa and Bifidobacterium spp. among responders. Based on a limited pooled sample size (n = 143), MMS-related adverse events were mostly grade 1-2 (42%; 95% CI: 14%-77%, I² = 53.8%, p = 0.0210), with rare severe events (1%). Overall, MMS show promising, though preliminary, hypothesis-generating signals for modulating ICI response. Given high heterogeneity and reliance on early-phase, single-arm trials, the findings underscore urgent need for large, biomarker-driven randomized controlled trials to define optimal interventions and cautiously integrate microbiome modulation into immuno-oncology care.

Indexed as

Fecal Microbiota TransplantationGastrointestinal MicrobiomeImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsImmunotherapyNeoplasmsProbioticsHumansSynbioticsImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsFaecal microbiota transplantationImmune checkpoint inhibitorsImmunotherapyMicrobiomeProbiotics

Identifiers

PMID41844942
PMCPMC13128819

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.