Abstract
Emerging evidence underscores gut microbiota’s role in modulating lung cancer immunotherapy outcomes, though specific impacts on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and associated adverse events (AEs) require further clarity. This review synthesizes findings from 15 studies examining gut microbiota-ICI interactions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), alongside studies investigating antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), probiotics, and diet as modulating factors. Results indicate that Actinobacteria, Bacteroides, and Verrucomicrobiota correlate with positive ICI responses, while Bacillota shows variable associations; notably, Bacillota-enriched patients had fewer immunotherapy-related AEs. The administration of antibiotics and PPIs within a month before ICIs was linked to diminished efficacy, whereas probiotics correlated with enhanced outcomes. Plant-based diets are also aligned with dietary patterns supportive of ICIs. These findings suggest that analyzing gut microbiota composition could improve the ability to predict NSCLC patient responses to ICIs. Additionally, judicious use of antibiotics, PPIs, probiotics, and dietary adjustments may optimize immunotherapy outcomes and mitigate adverse effects.
1 Introduction
Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, accounting for 11.6% of all cases. Even more concerning, it is responsible for 18.4% of cancer-related deaths. Among the different types, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common (). The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has provided a new treatment approach for NSCLC patients (). However, this treatment is not without adverse effects (AEs), which can impede the therapeutic efficacy in some patients (). Recent research has shown that gut microbiota significantly influences the effectiveness of immunotherapy in NSCLC (). The development and function of immune cells are influenced by gut microbiota on immune responses (). The effectiveness and side effects of ICIs are closely associated with the composition and diversity of gut microbiota (). However, there has been little research on ICIs’ effect on gut microbiota in NSCLC patients. We intend to synthesize research regarding the influence of the gut microbiota on treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including potential factors that may impact outcomes. The findings will provide valuable references for future clinical practice and therapeutic strategies.
2 Materials and methods
This study follows the PRISMA guidelines ().Inclusion and exclusion criteria: The study population included NSCLC patients; observational studies providing information on the efficacy and/or adverse effects of gut flora, antibiotics, PPIs, probiotics, and diet in relation to immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer were included, while case reports, reviews, conference proceedings, and abstracts were excluded. Search Strategy:Searches of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were conducted to include English-language studies from the time of construction through March 26, 2024. Searches were conducted using the subject terms “carcinoma, non-small cell lung,” “gut microbiome,” “microbiota,” “antibiotics,” “proton pump inhibitors,” “diet,” “healthy adult,” “probiotics,” “immunotherapy,” and related free keywords. The initial screening of studies was performed by two authors on the basis of the title and abstract, followed by a careful reading of the full article, and in case of disagreement, the decision was discussed with a third author (Supplementary Files). Quality assessment: Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) with a score ranging from 0-9 (). Studies were subsequently categorized as low-moderate quality (score <7) and high quality (score ≥7) based on their quality scores. Data extraction: two authors extracted data using a predefined form and discussed with the third author in case of disagreement. Data extraction included: 1st author, year of publication, study design, country of study, sample size, patient characteristics, gut flora sequencing methods, and flora characteristics. Statistical analysis: descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results of the study and Fisher’s test was used to assess the differences between the two groups, with P < 0.05 indicating statistical significance.
3 Results
3.1 Gut microbiota is associated with response to ICIs and adverse events in NSCLC
This study focused on exploring the connection between intestinal microflora and the therapeutic outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A comprehensive search was conducted using the keywords “carcinoma, non-small-cell lung,” “gut microbiome,” and “immunotherapy,” which yielded 568 potentially eligible studies. After rigorous manual screening, 15 clinical studies related to the gut microbiota and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were identified, with the majority of these studies being of high quality (Figure 1). With 15 of the studies having data on treatment response to ICIs and 5 of them having data on both treatment response to ICIs and immune-related adverse effects (AEs) (, , –). The research on the association between gut microbiota and response to immunotherapy in NSCLC included a total of 763 patients, primarily from China, Spain, Poland, Hungary, and Japan, with ages ranging from 30 to 88 years. Additionally, 358 patients, mainly from Spain, Hungary, and Japan, aged between 31 and 88 years, were included to assess the correlation between gut microbiota and immune-related AEs associated with NSCLC immunotherapy (Supplementary Tables).
Figure 1
We used the phyloT online tool (https://phylot.biobyte.de) to map and evaluate the gut microbiota data that we gathered from pertinent studies. As shown in Figure 2, our analysis revealed that a higher abundance of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobiota was linked to positive clinical outcomes in ICI treatment. However, the response to Bacillota varied, with some inconsistent findings across two studies. Additionally, we noted that Proteobacteria might be related to a favorable response to immunotherapy efficacy. Not only that but in our AEs study on the gut microbiota and ICIs, we found that almost all enriched Bacillota were associated with a reduced incidence of AEs to immunotherapy, whereas no significant differential changes were observed in the Bacteroidetes (Figure 3).
Figure 2
Figure 3
3.2 Impact of antibiotics on treatment of ICIs in NSCLC
From the analysis above, we discovered an association of gut microbiota with the treatment efficacy of ICIs in NSCLC. This finding prompted the hypothesis that antibiotics, as modulators of gut flora, could influence the effectiveness of ICIs in NSCLC. To investigate the impact of antibiotics on ICI efficacy, a search was conducted using the keywords “antibiotics,” “immunotherapy,” “microbiota,” and “carcinoma, non-small-cell lung.” Following screening, 15 relevant studies were identified (Supplementary Figure S1). Out of 2012 patients assessed, 570 were undergoing antibiotic treatment. Two of the studies were prospective (, ), while the remaining 13 studies were retrospective (–). As illustrated in Figure 4A, most studies indicated that antibiotic use negatively impacted ICI treatment efficacy, although five studies reported no significant effect. We noted differences in outcomes across various studies based on antibiotic use before or after ICI treatment, suggesting that the timing of antibiotic administration might affect the efficacy of ICI therapy (Supplementary Figure S2). To explore this further, we further analyzed the timing of antibiotic use and the effect on outcomes, extracted the studies with negative effects, and got the conclusion that antibiotic use 1 month before ICIs treatment had a negative effect (Figures 4B, C).
Figure 4
3.3 Influence of proton pump inhibitors and probiotics on the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in NSCLC
Proton pump inhibitors may disturb the ecological equilibrium of gut microbiota through the suppression of gastric acid secretion, potentially affecting the effectiveness of ICIs. To assess the impact of PPIs on ICI effectiveness in treating NSCLC, a literature search was conducted using key terms such as “proton pump inhibitors,” “immunotherapy,” “microbiota,” and “carcinoma, non-small-cell lung.” A total of five relevant studies were identified (–), all of which were retrospective studies, two of which were from references (, ) (Supplementary Figure S3). Three studies indicated that PPI use may negatively affect ICI treatment outcomes, with the adverse effects primarily occurring within one month prior to ICI therapy. Notably, one study did not specify the timing of PPI use, and thus, descriptive analysis of its timing was not conducted (Supplementary Figure S4).
Probiotics, which are live bacteria that are beneficial to the body, improve the activity of intestinal microorganisms and may influence the efficacy of ICIs. To determine if probiotics could improve the effectiveness of ICIs in treating NSCLC, a search was conducted using the keywords “probiotics,” “immunotherapy,” and “carcinoma, non-small-cell lung.” This search identified six relevant clinical studies (–), two of which were from references (, ) (Supplementary Figure S5). The study populations, comprising a total of 1,711 participants, were based in Japan, the United States, and Europe, with 12.5% of participants using probiotics. Four studies indicated that probiotics enhanced ICI efficacy, significantly improving both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients (Supplementary Figure S6).
3.4 Potential impact of diet on the treatment of ICIs in NSCLC
We initially searched the literature using the keywords “diet,” “gut microbiome,” “immunotherapy,” and “carcinoma, non-small-cell lung.” However, it was difficult to obtain a sufficient number of studies, so we sought to investigate the link between diet and the gut microbiome by employing the keywords “diet”, “gut microbiome”, and “healthy adult”. We retrieved 671 studies, and 17 results were identified after strict qualification screening (–), and another 4 results were from studies in the references (–), for a total of 21 studies (Supplementary Figure S7). According to our earlier findings, we identified Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobiota as well as a rise in α-diversity as diets favorable to the treatment of those ICIs, while diets unfavorable to the treatment of those ICIs produced the reverse effect. The 21 studies covered a total of 820 study participants from the countries of the United States, Brazil, Norway, China, Japan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany, with a predominance of females, aged 18–72.4 years, and a BMI of 18.6-36.6 kg/m2. We divide our food intake into two categories: plant-based (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, etc.) and animal-based (meat, eggs, milk, etc.). The results are shown in Figure 5A, where we identified 11 out of 18 studies that were supportive of plant-based diets and one study that was not supportive, compared to two studies based on three animal-based diets, leading to the conclusion that plant-based diets were significantly related to favoring the treatment of ICIs (Figure 5B) (p = .033).
Figure 5
4 Discussion
While the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has greatly changed the treatment for NSCLC, challenges such as drug resistance and immunotherapy-related side effects have limited their potential to achieve optimal efficacy (). Gut microbiota is vital in regulating the immune response during cancer progression. Intratumoral microbiota interact with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to evade immune surveillance; however, they also stimulate immune cell production and boost immune function, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy (). Some studies have shown that fecal bacterial transplantation can improve resistance to tumor immunotherapy, which is associated with changes in the intestinal microbiota and tumor microenvironment (). This research investigates the link between gut microbiota and the management of non-small cell lung cancer using ICIs, focusing on the impact of gut modulation and diet on the effectiveness of ICIs. The findings aim to provide valuable insights for improving clinical treatment outcomes.
The clinical efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is influenced by the composition of the gut microbiota. We found that higher abundances of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia were associated with better efficacy of ICIs, while the role of Firmicutes in ICI efficacy is more complex, showing both promoting and inhibiting effects. Bifidobacterium, a genus within the phylum Actinobacteria, has been shown to enhance the efficacy of ICI treatment in NSCLC patients.A study suggests that Bifidobacterium enhances the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-L1 antibodies by promoting dendritic cell function and increasing the accumulation of CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment (). Another preclinical study showed that Bifidobacterium can reduce tumor burden in mice by enhancing immune responses, possibly through the biosynthesis of immune-stimulatory molecules and metabolic products (). However, other studies have found that an increase in the abundance of Actinobacteria is associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in NSCLC patients receiving ICI treatment, suggesting that the specific mechanisms of Actinobacteria in ICI therapy still require further investigation (). Gopalakrishnan et al. found that Bacteroidetes is closely associated with a favorable response to PD-1 inhibitors, as Bacteroidetes modulates the immune microenvironment to activate anti-tumor T cell responses (). In our study, we also found an enrichment of Alistipes putredinis and Parabacteroides distasonis in NSCLC patients who had a good response to ICIs. Rebecca L. Brown et al. proposed that Bacteroidetes exhibit strong immune-stimulating abilities through the activation of TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4), and their effects on gut immunity are almost entirely dependent on the TLR4 receptor (). In addition, Verrucomicrobia, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, has been shown to enhance the efficacy of immune therapy, particularly by improving gut barrier function and increasing immune cell infiltration, thereby boosting the patient’s response to immunotherapy (). Studies have shown that oral administration of Akkermansia muciniphila can increase the recruitment of CCR9+CXCR3+CD4+ T lymphocytes to the tumor bed, thereby restoring the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in NSCLC patients (). The role of Firmicutes in ICI treatment is more complex and may be influenced by factors such as sample size, patient population characteristics (e.g., age, sex, disease type), and variations in sequencing methods. An observational study found that Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 strain (CBM588) significantly prolonged the overall survival of NSCLC patients receiving combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This effect may be related to CBM588’s ability to expand the population of resident Bifidobacterium, thereby promoting anti-tumor immunity and enhancing ICI efficacy (, ). On the other hand, a study involving 67 advanced NSCLC patients found that an increase in the Ruminococcaceae family was associated with a lack of response to immunotherapy (). Additionally, Firmicutes has been linked to a reduction in immune therapy-related adverse effects. Certain strains, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, possess immune-regulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, likely influencing the host’s immune response through the production of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate. This may help alleviate immune therapy-related side effects, such as colitis induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors (). However, a study by Dubin et al. showed that an increase in certain bacterial populations within the Bacteroidetes phylum is associated with resistance to checkpoint blockade-induced colitis, which complicates the understanding of the gut microbiota’s role in modulating the effects of immunotherapy (78). In addition, some studies have suggested that higher alpha diversity may be associated with better immunotherapeutic response, suggesting that gut microbial diversity may influence immune system function and thus interact with the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition therapies (). However, this finding has not been consistently supported across studies, and some studies have failed to find a clear association between alpha diversity and immune efficacy. In conclusion, the role of the gut microbiota in the efficacy of ICIs in NSCLC patients is multifaceted, and further research is needed to uncover its underlying mechanisms.
Antibiotic use reduces the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly negatively affecting overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study demonstrated that patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received antibiotic treatment within one month prior to the commencement of immunotherapy exhibited significantly poorer outcomes. This finding aligns with the observations reported in a study by DeRosa et al., which noted a substantial decline in overall survival (OS) among NSCLC patients who received β-lactam or quinolone antibiotics, particularly within the initial 30 days of treatment (79). However, research on the long-term effects of antibiotics on gut microbiota and ICI outcomes remains limited. The question of whether antibiotics exert temporary or permanent effects on the gut microbiota is still under debate. A study by Huang et al. used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess the short- and long-term effects of ampicillin, vancomycin, metronidazole, and neomycin on the gut microbiota in mice. The results revealed that these oral antibiotics have a long-lasting negative impact on the gut microbiota, promoting the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant strains and causing irreversible changes in microbial diversity (80). Nevertheless, the specific impact of these changes on the long-term efficacy of immunotherapy remains unclear, and longer follow-up studies are needed in the future to explore this further. Furthermore, an investigation was conducted into the impact of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), with particular emphasis on the potential adverse effects of PPI utilization. This effect may be related to the alteration of the gut microbiota due to PPIs, thus affecting the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ICIs. However, previous studies have shown no significant association between PPI use and overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) in NSCLC patients treated with ICIs (81). These discrepancies may be attributable to a range of factors, including ambiguous time frames for PPI exposure or the presence of other potential confounders that have not been sufficiently addressed. Consequently, there is a necessity for more sophisticated study designs and a more comprehensive consideration of influential factors when analyzing the effects of PPIs on the efficacy of ICIs. The paucity of research on the long-term effects of PPIs on the gut microbiota and the efficacy of ICIs is a key area for future investigation. The long-term use of PPIs may continue to alter the pH of the gastrointestinal tract, which in turn affects the ecological balance of the intestinal microbiota. However, further investigation is required to fully elucidate the long-term effects of PPIs on the intestinal microbiota and the efficacy of ICIs. The favorable link between probiotic use and immunotherapy outcomes can be attributed to their ability to beneficially modulate the gut microbiota. Studies suggesting that specific gut microbiota (e.g., Bifidobacterium) may enhance antitumor responses to anti-PD-1 therapy have been reported by Sivan et al. and Vetizou et al (82, 83). Additionally, a study by Matson et al. noted that specific gut microbiota are significantly associated with immunotherapy efficacy, and these microbiota can often be enhanced by probiotic supplementation (84).
There is a growing recognition of the complex relationship between gut microbiota and nutrition in regulating the immune system and tumor microenvironment. Our findings identify potential benefits of plant-based diets in enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Specifically, plant-based diets can increase the abundance of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia, while also enhancing the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota, thereby improving the efficacy of ICIs. On the other hand, animal-based diets can reduce the abundance of these beneficial bacteria, negatively affecting the efficacy of ICIs. Recent studies support our findings and suggest that a high-fiber, plant-based diet may enhance the therapeutic effects of ICIs by promoting the proliferation of beneficial gut microbiota. For example, one study recommended that patients consume at least thirty different plant-based foods each week, such as nuts, seeds, grains, fruits and vegetables, to optimize the effectiveness of ICIs (85). This dietary approach may indirectly affect the tumor microenvironment by enhancing intestinal barrier function and modulating the immune system, while providing essential nutritional substrates for the gut microbiota. However, it is important to note that the conclusion of this review that a plant-based diet improves the efficacy of ICIs is largely based on observational studies, which can themselves be affected by potential confounding factors. First, people who choose to follow a plant-based diet tend to be in better overall health and may be more attentive to lifestyle factors such as exercise and sleep, all of which can affect the efficacy of immunotherapy. For example, Gustafson et al. showed that exercise and physical activity can improve immunotherapy outcomes in cancer patients (86). Thus, lifestyle factors may to some extent influence the observed association between a plant-based diet and the efficacy of ICIs. Second, some individuals who choose a plant-based diet may also supplement with probiotics, which may themselves have a beneficial effect on immunotherapy by modulating the gut microbiota and enhancing immune responses. Thus, the use of probiotics may also be an important confounding factor in the efficacy of immunotherapy. Although certain dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet or the ketogenic diet, have been shown to improve the response to immunotherapy, personalized dietary recommendations may be more helpful in improving the response to ICI due to individual differences in diet-induced changes in the microbiota (87, 88).Individuals respond differently to the gut microbiota of the same diet, which may be related to the individual’s gut environment and lifestyle factors. At present, research into the effect of personalized nutrition on immunotherapy is still in its early stages and the evidence is limited. Future studies can improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy by analyzing patients’ gut microbiota in detail and developing personalized dietary regimens that take into account the individual’s condition.
This review has several limitations. First, the broad applicability of the conclusions is limited by the small sample size of the included studies, which may not be fully representative of all NSCLC patients. Additionally, the included studies were observational and could not clearly establish causality, and larger randomized controlled trials are needed to validate our findings in the future.
5 Conclusion
The composition of the gut microbiota is closely associated with the outcomes of immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Factors such as antibiotics, PPIs, probiotics, and diet can significantly impact the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Our findings provide practical recommendations for the clinical use of gut modulators and dietary strategies.
Statements
Data availability statement
Publicly available datasets were analyzed in this study. The datasets used and/or analyzed in this study are available to the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Author contributions
YJ: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. ZJ: Formal Analysis, Visualization, Writing – original draft. XF: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This study was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province (No. 2022NSFSC0046); the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (No. 2022YFS0631); Luzhou Science and Technology Program (No.2023JYJ049); Tianfu Talent project.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Generative AI statement
The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Supplementary material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1518474/full#supplementary-material
References
1
BrayFFerlayJSoerjomataramISiegelRLTorreLAJemalA. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer J clinic Nov. (2018) 68:394–424. doi: 10.3322/caac.21492
2
PardollDM. The blockade of immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Cancer. (2012) 12:252–64. doi: 10.1038/nrc3239
3
NaidooJPageDBLiBTConnellLCSchindlerKLacoutureMEet al. Toxicities of the anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint antibodies. Ann Oncol. (2015) 26:2375–91. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdv383
4
JinYDongHXiaLYangYZhuYShenYet al. The diversity of gut microbiome is associated with favorable responses to anti-programmed death 1 immunotherapy in Chinese patients with NSCLC. J Thorac Oncol. (2019) 14:1378–89. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.04.007
5
CullinNAzevedo AntunesCStraussmanRStein-ThoeringerCKElinavE. Microbiome and cancer. Cancer Cell. (2021) 39:1317–41. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.08.006
6
HakozakiTRichardCElkriefAHosomiYBenlaïfaouiMMimpenIet al. The gut microbiome associates with immune checkpoint inhibition outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Immunol Res. (2020) 8:1243–50. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.Cir-20-0196
7
PageMJMcKenzieJEBossuytPMBoutronIHoffmannTCMulrowCDet al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. J Clin Epidemiol. (2021) 134:178–89. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.03.001
8
StangA. Critical evaluation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for the assessment of the quality of nonrandomized studies in meta-analyses. Eur J Epidemiol. (2010) 25:603–5. doi: 10.1007/s10654-010-9491-z
9
LiLZhongHWangYPanZXuSLiSet al. Exploring the relationship between intestinal microbiota and immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: insights from the “lung and large intestine stand in exterior-interior relationship” theory. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. (2024) 14:1341032. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1341032
10
GrendaAIwanEKrawczykPFrąkMChmielewskaIBombaAet al. Attempting to identify bacterial allies in immunotherapy of NSCLC patients. Cancers (Basel). (2022) 14:6250. doi: 10.3390/cancers14246250
11
ZhaoHLiDLiuJZhouXHanJWangLet al. Bifidobacterium breve predicts the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in Chinese NSCLC patients. Cancer Med Mar. (2023) 12:6325–36. doi: 10.1002/cam4.5312
12
ZhangCWangJSunZCaoYMuZJiX. Commensal microbiota contributes to predicting the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Cancer Sci Aug. (2021) 112:3005–17. doi: 10.1111/cas.14979
13
FangCFangWXuLGaoFHouYZouHet al. Distinct functional metagenomic markers predict the responsiveness to anti-PD-1 therapy in Chinese non-small cell lung cancer patients. Front Oncol. (2022) 12:837525. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.837525
14
SarkarJCortes GomezEObaTChenHDyGKSegalBHet al. Fluctuations in gut microbiome composition during immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. World J Oncol Jun. (2023) 14:178–87. doi: 10.14740/wjon1587
15
SongPYangDWangHCuiXSiXZhangXet al. Relationship between intestinal flora structure and metabolite analysis and immunotherapy efficacy in Chinese NSCLC patients. Thorac Cancer Jun. (2020) 11:1621–32. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.13442
16
KatayamaYYamadaTShimamotoTIwasakuMKanekoYUchinoJet al. The role of the gut microbiome on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in Japanese responder patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Transl Lung Cancer Res. (2019) 8:847–53. doi: 10.21037/tlcr.2019.10.23
17
ZhangFFerreroMDongND'AuriaGReyes-PrietoMHerreros-PomaresAet al. Analysis of the gut microbiota: an emerging source of biomarkers for immune checkpoint blockade therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancers (Basel). (2021). doi: 10.3390/cancers13112514
18
DoraDWeissGJMegyesfalviZGállfyGDulkaEKerpel-FroniusAet al. Computed tomography-based quantitative texture analysis and gut microbial community signatures predict survival in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancers (Basel). (2023) 15:5091. doi: 10.3390/cancers15205091
19
ShojiFYamaguchiMOkamotoMTakamoriSYamazakiKOkamotoTet al. Gut microbiota diversity and specific composition during immunotherapy in responders with non-small cell lung cancer. Front Mol Biosci. (2022) 9:1040424. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1040424
20
DoraDLigetiBKovacsTRevisnyeiPGalffyGDulkaEet al. Non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with Anti-PD1 immunotherapy show distinct microbial signatures and metabolic pathways according to progression-free survival and PD-L1 status. Oncoimmunology. (2023) 12:2204746. doi: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2204746
21
HeDLiXAnRWangLWangYZhengSet al. Response to PD-1-based immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer altered by gut microbiota. Oncol Ther. (2021) 9:647–57. doi: 10.1007/s40487-021-00171-3
22
HamadaKYoshimuraKHirasawaYHosonumaMMurayamaMNarikawaYet al. Antibiotic usage reduced overall survival by over 70% in non-small cell lung cancer patients on anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Anticancer Res. (2021) 41:4985–93. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15312
23
KaderbhaiCRichardCFumetJDAarninkAFoucherPCoudertBet al. Antibiotic use does not appear to influence response to nivolumab. Anticancer Res. (2017) 37:3195–200. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.11680
24
ZhaoSGaoGLiWLiXZhaoCJiangTet al. Antibiotics are associated with attenuated efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer. (2019) 130:10–7. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2019.01.017
25
Ruiz-PatiñoABarrónFCardonaAFCorralesLMasLMartínCet al. Antibiotics impair immune checkpoint inhibitor effectiveness in Hispanic patients with non-small cell lung cancer (AB-CLICaP). Thorac Cancer. (2020) 11:2552–60. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.13573
26
GalliGTriulziTProtoCSignorelliDImbimboMPoggiMet al. Association between antibiotic-immunotherapy exposure ratio and outcome in metastatic non small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer (Amsterdam Netherlands). (2019) 132:72–8. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2019.04.008
27
LuPHTsaiTCChangJWDengSTChengCY. Association of prior fluoroquinolone treatment with survival outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors in Asia. J Clin Pharm Ther. (2021) 46:408–14. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.13298
28
GeumMJKimCKangJEChoiJHKimJSSonESet al. Broad-spectrum antibiotic regimen affects survival in patients receiving nivolumab for non-small cell lung cancer. Pharmaceut (Basel Switzerland). (2021) 14:445. doi: 10.3390/ph14050445
29
Alkan ŞenGŞentürk ÖztaşNDeğerliECanGTurnaHÖzgüroğluM. Effect of antibiotic treatment on immune checkpoint inhibitors efficacy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer (Amsterdam Netherlands). (2023) 184:107347. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107347
30
NyeinAFBariSHogueSZhaoYMallerBShaSet al. Effect of prior antibiotic or chemotherapy treatment on immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer. BMC Cancer. (2022) 22:101. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09210-2
31
CastelloARossiSToschiLLopciE. Impact of antibiotic therapy and metabolic parameters in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors. J Clin med. (2021) 10:1251. doi: 10.3390/jcm10061251
32
HakozakiTOkumaYOmoriMHosomiY. Impact of prior antibiotic use on the efficacy of nivolumab for non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett Mar. (2019) 17:2946–52. doi: 10.3892/ol.2019.9899
33
Martinez-Mugica BarbosaCCercós LletíACPampín SánchezRDurán RománCTerroba AlonsoPFernández GonzálezB. Impact of the use of antibiotics on the clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Rev Esp Quimioter. (2022) 35:551–8. doi: 10.37201/req/040.2022
34
SchettARothschildSICurioni-FontecedroAKrähenbühlSFrühMSchmidSet al. Predictive impact of antibiotics in patients with advanced non small-cell lung cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors: Antibiotics immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced NSCLC. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. (2020) 85:121–31. doi: 10.1007/s00280-019-03993-1
35
VerschuerenMVvan der WelleCMCTonnMSchramelFPetersBJMvan de GardeEMW. The association between gut microbiome affecting concomitant medication and the effectiveness of immunotherapy in patients with stage IV NSCLC. Sci Rep. (2021) 11:23331. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02598-0
36
CortelliniADi MaioMNigroOLeonettiACortinovisDLAertsJGet al. Differential influence of antibiotic therapy and other medications on oncological outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with first-line pembrolizumab versus cytotoxic chemotherapy. J immunother cancer. (2021) 9:e002421. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002421
37
ChalabiMCardonaANagarkarDRDhawahir ScalaAGandaraDRRittmeyerAet al. Efficacy of chemotherapy and atezolizumab in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer receiving antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors: pooled post hoc analyses of the OAK and POPLAR trials. Ann Oncol. (2020) 31:525–31. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.01.006
38
GiordanQSalleronJVallanceCMorianaCClement-DucheneC. Impact of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors on efficacy and tolerance of anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors. Front Immunol. (2021) 12:716317. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.716317
39
PengKChenKTeplyBAYeeGCFaraziPALydenER. Impact of proton pump inhibitor use on the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced cancer patients. Ann Pharmacother. (2022) 56:377–86. doi: 10.1177/10600280211033938
40
TakadaKButiSBersanelliMShimokawaMTakamoriSMatsubaraTet al. Antibiotic-dependent effect of probiotics in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with PD-1 checkpoint blockade. Eur J Cancer (Oxford England: 1990). (2022) 172:199–208. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.06.002
41
TomitaYIkedaTSakataSSaruwatariKSatoRIyamaSet al. Association of probiotic clostridium butyricum therapy with survival and response to immune checkpoint blockade in patients with lung cancer. Cancer Immunol Res. (2020) 8:1236–42. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.Cir-20-0051
42
TakadaKShimokawaMTakamoriSShimamatsuSHiraiFTagawaTet al. Clinical impact of probiotics on the efficacy of anti-PD-1 monotherapy in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer: A multicenter retrospective survival analysis study with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Int J Cancer. (2021) 149:473–82. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33557
43
SvatonMZemanovaMZemanovaPKultanJFischerOSkrickovaJet al. Impact of concomitant medication administered at the time of initiation of nivolumab therapy on outcome in non-small cell lung cancer. Anticancer Res. (2020) 40:2209–17. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.14182
44
MiuraKSanoYNihoSKawasumiKMochizukiNYohKet al. Impact of concomitant medication on clinical outcomes in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A retrospective study. Thoracic cancer. (2021) 12:1983–94. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.14001
45
MoritaAIchiharaEInoueKFujiwaraKYokoyamaTHaradaDet al. Impacts of probiotics on the efficacies of immune checkpoint inhibitors with or without chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Int J Cancer. (2024) 154:1607–15. doi: 10.1002/ijc.34842
46
HolscherHDTaylorAMSwansonKSNovotnyJABaerDJ. Almond consumption and processing affects the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota of healthy adult men and women: A randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. (2018) 10:126. doi: 10.3390/nu10020126
47
KaczmarekJLLiuXCharronCSNovotnyJAJefferyEHSeifriedHEet al. Broccoli consumption affects the human gastrointestinal microbiota. J Nutr Biochem. (2019) 63:27–34. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.09.015
48
KellingrayLTappHSSahaSDolemanJFNarbadAMithenRF. Consumption of a diet rich in Brassica vegetables is associated with a reduced abundance of sulphate-reducing bacteria: A randomised crossover study. Mol Nutr Food Res. (2017) 61:1600992. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201600992
49
OhashiYSumitaniKTokunagaMIshiharaNOkuboTFujisawaT. Consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum stimulates Bifidobacteria and butyrate-producing bacteria in the human large intestine. Beneficial microb. (2015) 6:451–5. doi: 10.3920/bm2014.0118
50
LimaACDCecattiCFidélixMPAdornoMATSakamotoIKCesarTBet al. Effect of daily consumption of orange juice on the levels of blood glucose, lipids, and gut microbiota metabolites: controlled clinical trials. J med Food. (2019) 22:202–10. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2018.0080
51
SchmedesMBrejnrodADAadlandEKKiilerichPKristiansenKJacquesHet al. The effect of lean-seafood and non-seafood diets on fecal metabolites and gut microbiome: results from a randomized crossover intervention study. Mol Nutr Food Res. (2019) 63:e1700976. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700976
52
YangJKurniaPHenningSMLeeRHuangJGarciaMCet al. Effect of standardized grape powder consumption on the gut microbiome of healthy subjects: A pilot study. Nutrients. (2021) 13:3965. doi: 10.3390/nu13113965
53
ManoFIkedaKJooEFujitaYYamaneSHaradaNet al. The effect of white rice and white bread as staple foods on gut microbiota and host metabolism. Nutrients. (2018) 10:1323. doi: 10.3390/nu10091323
54
HielSBindelsLBPachikianBDKalalaGBroersVZamariolaGet al. Effects of a diet based on inulin-rich vegetables on gut health and nutritional behavior in healthy humans. Am J Clin nutri. (2019) 109:1683–95. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz001
55
TianTZhangXLuoTWangDSunYDaiJ. Effects of short-term dietary fiber intervention on gut microbiota in young healthy people. Diab Metab syndr obes: Targets Ther. (2021) 14:3507–16. doi: 10.2147/dmso.S313385
56
WanYTongWZhouRLiJYuanJWangFet al. Habitual animal fat consumption in shaping gut microbiota and microbial metabolites. Food Funct. (2019) 10:7973–82. doi: 10.1039/c9fo01490j
57
HenningSMYangJShaoPLeeRPHuangJLyAet al. Health benefit of vegetable/fruit juice-based diet: Role of microbiome. Sci reports. (2017) 7:2167. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02200-6
58
KangCZhangYZhuXLiuKWangXChenMet al. Healthy subjects differentially respond to dietary capsaicin correlating with specific gut enterotypes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. (2016) 101:4681–9. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-2786
59
SheflinAMBorresenECWdowikMJRaoSBrownRJHeubergerALet al. Pilot dietary intervention with heat-stabilized rice bran modulates stool microbiota and metabolites in healthy adults. Nutrients. (2015) 7:1282–300. doi: 10.3390/nu7021282
60
VandeputteDFalonyGVieira-SilvaSWangJSailerMTheisSet al. Prebiotic inulin-type fructans induce specific changes in the human gut microbiota. Gut. (2017) 66:1968–74. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-313271
61
HolscherHDGuettermanHMSwansonKSAnRMatthanNRLichtensteinAHet al. Walnut consumption alters the gastrointestinal microbiota, microbially derived secondary bile acids, and health markers in healthy adults: A randomized controlled trial. J nutri. (2018) 148:861–7. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxy004
62
BambergerCRossmeierALechnerKWuLWaldmannEFischerSet al. A walnut-enriched diet affects gut microbiome in healthy Caucasian subjects: A randomized, controlled trial. Nutrients. (2018) 10:244. doi: 10.3390/nu10020244
63
HoodaSBolerBMSeraoMCBrulcJMStaegerMABoileauTWet al. 454 pyrosequencing reveals a shift in fecal microbiota of healthy adult men consuming polydextrose or soluble corn fiber. J nutri. (2012) 142:1259–65. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.158766
64
DavidLAMauriceCFCarmodyRNGootenbergDBButtonJEWolfeBEet al. Diet rapidly and reproducibly alters the human gut microbiome. Nature. (2014) 505:559–63. doi: 10.1038/nature12820
65
MartínezILattimerJMHubachKLCaseJAYangJWeberCGet al. Gut microbiome composition is linked to whole grain-induced immunological improvements. ISME J. (2013) 7:269–80. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2012.104
66
FoersterJMaskarinecGReichardtNTettANarbadABlautMet al. The influence of whole grain products and red meat on intestinal microbiota composition in normal weight adults: a randomized crossover intervention trial. PloS One. (2014) 9:e109606. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109606
67
GangXYanJLiXShiSXuLLiuRet al. Immune checkpoint inhibitors rechallenge in non-small cell lung cancer: Current evidence and future directions. Cancer lett. (2024) 604:217241. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217241
68
ZhaoLYMeiJXYuGLeiLZhangWHLiuKet al. Role of the gut microbiota in anticancer therapy: from molecular mechanisms to clinical applications. Signal transduct target Ther. (2023) 8:201. doi: 10.1038/s41392-023-01406-7
69
KimYKimGKimSChoBKimSYDoEJet al. Fecal microbiota transplantation improves anti-PD-1 inhibitor efficacy in unresectable or metastatic solid cancers refractory to anti-PD-1 inhibitor. Cell host Microbe. (2024) 32:1380–1393.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.06.010
70
WatanabeSKikuchiT. Does the gut microbiota play a key role in PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy? Transl Lung Cancer Res. (2020) 9:438–40. doi: 10.21037/tlcr.2020.03.31
71
LeeSHChoSYYoonYParkCSohnJet al. Bifidobacterium bifidum strains synergize with immune checkpoint inhibitors to reduce tumour burden in mice. Nat Microbiol. (2021) 6:277–88. doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-00831-6
72
GopalakrishnanVSpencerCNNeziLReubenAAndrewsMCKarpinetsTVet al. Gut microbiome modulates response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma patients. Sci (New York NY). (2018) 359:97–103. doi: 10.1126/science.aan4236
73
BrownRLLarkinsonMLYClarkeTB. Immunological design of commensal communities to treat intestinal infection and inflammation. PloS Pathog. (2021) 17:e100919. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009191
74
RoutyBLe ChatelierEDerosaLDuongCPMAlouMTDaillèreRet al. Gut microbiome influences efficacy of PD-1-based immunotherapy against epithelial tumors. Science. (2018) 359:91–7. doi: 10.1126/science.aan3706
75
TomitaYSakataSImamuraKIyamaSJodaiTSaruwatariKet al. Association of clostridium butyricum therapy using the live bacterial product CBM588 with the survival of patients with lung cancer receiving chemoimmunotherapy combinations. Cancers (Basel). (2023) 16:47. doi: 10.3390/cancers16010047
76
StoevaMKGarcia-SoJJusticeNMyersJTyagiSNemchekMet al. Butyrate-producing human gut symbiont, Clostridium butyricum, and its role in health and disease. Gut Microb. (2021) 13:1–28. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1907272
77
NewsomeRCGharaibehRZPierceCMda SilvaWVPaulSHogueSRet al. Interaction of bacterial genera associated with therapeutic response to immune checkpoint PD-1 blockade in a United States cohort. Genome Med. (2022) 14:35. doi: 10.1186/s13073-022-01037-7
78
DubinKCallahanMKRenBKhaninRVialeALingLet al. Intestinal microbiome analyses identify melanoma patients at risk for checkpoint-blockade-induced colitis. Nat Commun. (2016) 7:10391. doi: 10.1038/ncomms10391
79
DerosaLHellmannMDSpazianoMHalpennyDFidelleMRizviHet al. Negative association of antibiotics on clinical activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced renal cell and non-small-cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol. (2018) 29:1437–44. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdy103
80
HuangCFengSHuoFLiuH. Effects of four antibiotics on the diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Microbiol Spectr. (2022) 10:e0190421. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01904-21
81
RizzoACusmaiAGiovannelliFAcquafreddaSRinaldiLMisinoAet al. Impact of proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2-receptor antagonists on non-small cell lung cancer immunotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancers. (2022) 14:1404. doi: 10.3390/cancers14061404
82
SivanACorralesLHubertNWilliamsJBAquino-MichaelsKEarleyZMet al. Commensal Bifidobacterium promotes antitumor immunity and facilitates anti-PD-L1 efficacy. Sci (New York NY). (2015) 350:1084–9. doi: 10.1126/science.aac4255
83
VétizouMPittJMDaillèreRLepagePWaldschmittNFlamentCet al. Anticancer immunotherapy by CTLA-4 blockade relies on the gut microbiota. Sci (New York NY). (2015) 350:1079–84. doi: 10.1126/science.aad1329
84
MatsonVFesslerJBaoRChongsuwatTZhaYAlegreMLet al. The commensal microbiome is associated with anti-PD-1 efficacy in metastatic melanoma patients. Sci (New York NY). (2018) 359:104–8. doi: 10.1126/science.aao3290
85
LeeKAShawHMBatailleVNathanPSpectorTD. Role of the gut microbiome for cancer patients receiving immunotherapy: Dietary and treatment implications. Eur J Cancer (Oxford England: 1990). (2020) 138:149–55. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.07.026
86
GustafsonMPWheatley-GuyCMRosenthalACGastineauDAKatsanisEJohnsonBDet al. Exercise and the immune system: taking steps to improve responses to cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer. (2021) 9:e001872. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001872
87
BolteLALeeKABjörkJRLeemingERCampmans-KuijpersMJEde HaanJJet al. Association of a mediterranean diet with outcomes for patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade for advanced melanoma. JAMA Oncol. (2023) 9:705–9. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.7753
88
MurphySRahmySGanDLiuGZhuYManyakMet al. Ketogenic diet alters the epigenetic and immune landscape of prostate cancer to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Cancer Res. (2024) 84:1597–612. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.Can-23-2742
Summary
Keywords
immunotherapy, gut microbiota, non-small cell lung cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors, dietary intervention
Citation
Jin Y, Jie Z and Fan X (2025) Gut microbes and immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review. Front. Oncol. 15:1518474. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1518474
Received
28 October 2024
Accepted
14 April 2025
Published
08 May 2025
Volume
15 - 2025
Edited by
Stephen Blake, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Australia
Reviewed by
David Dora, Semmelweis University, Hungary
Hamadi Madhi, University of Michigan, United States
Vytautas Ankudavicius, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
Updates
Copyright
© 2025 Jin, Jie and Fan.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Xianming Fan, fxm129@163.com
†These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.