Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42324435›Full record

ArticleCancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII2026

Smoking-associated modulation of gut microbiota shapes response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Po-Yu Chien, Wen-Chien Cheng, Chin-Chuan Hung, Chih-Yen Tu, Te-Chun Hsia, Der-Yang Cho, Po-Ren Hsueh, Zi-Lun Lai, Yi-Cheng Shen, Yu-Chao Lin

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII, 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

10 authors.

Po-Yu Chien *Department of Pharmacy, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC.
Wen-Chien Cheng *Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC.
Chin-Chuan HungDepartment of Pharmacy, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC.
Chih-Yen TuDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC.
Te-Chun HsiaDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC.
Der-Yang ChoSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 91, Xueshi Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404328, Taiwan, ROC.
Po-Ren HsuehDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC.
Zi-Lun LaiDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC.
Yi-Cheng ShenDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC. greywolf0127@gmail.com.
Yu-Chao LinDivision of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yude Rd., North Dist., Taichung, 404332, Taiwan, ROC. 010001@tool.caaumed.org.tw.

Funding

China Medical University Hospital C1110812016-2
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSmoking status has been associated with differences in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This prospective cohort study evaluated whether smoking-related changes in the gut microbiota are linked to ICI response.

methodsBaseline fecal samples from 225 patients with NSCLC were analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing. Microbial composition, predicted functional features, and clinical variables were examined in relation to treatment response and progression-free survival (PFS). Associations with treatment response were assessed using multivariable ordinal logistic regression. PFS was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test.

resultsSmoking was associated with selected taxon-level microbial differences despite no significant differences in alpha or beta diversity. Compared with never-smokers, smokers exhibited reduced abundance of Bifidobacterium longum and enrichment of Gram-negative taxa. Functional prediction indicated increased potential for lipopolysaccharide, Kdo₂-lipid A, and lipid IVA biosynthesis in smokers. Predicted lpxM abundance, encoding a lipid A myristoyltransferase, was positively correlated with the Gram-negative bacterial fraction. Moreover, increased abundance of lpxM-linked Gammaproteobacteria was associated with improved ICI response in the NSCLC cohort. Conversely, lower B. longum abundance was associated with favorable ICI response and prolonged PFS.

conclusionsThese results indicate that smoking-related gut microbial alterations, particularly reduced B. longum abundance, are associated with enhanced ICI efficacy in NSCLC, supporting a role for the gut microbiota in smoking-associated differences in immunotherapy outcomes.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungGastrointestinal MicrobiomeImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsLung NeoplasmsSmokingAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRNA, Ribosomal, 16SImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsRNA, Ribosomal, 16SBifidobacterium longumImmune checkpoint inhibitorsMicrobiomeNon-small cell lung cancer

Identifiers

PMID42324435
PMCPMC13578165

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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.