Journal Article

DKFZ-2023-00315

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The influence of antibiotic administration on the outcomes of head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing definitive (chemo)radiation.

Rühle, A.DKFZ* ; Zou, J.DKFZ* ; Glaser, M. ; Halle, L. ; Gkika, E.DKFZ* ; Schäfer, H.DKFZ* ; Knopf, A. ; Becker, C. ; Grosu, A.-L.DKFZ* ; Popp, I.DKFZ* ; Nicolay, N. (Last author)DKFZ*

2023
Springer Heidelberg

Abstract: Effects of antibiotic administration on patients' microbiome may negatively influence cancer outcomes, and adverse prognoses after antibiotic application have been demonstrated for cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. While the microbiome may play an important role also in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the prognostic value of antibiotic treatment here is largely unknown. We therefore analyzed whether antibiotic prescription is associated with impaired oncological outcomes of HNSCC patients undergoing definitive (chemo)radiation.A cohort of 220 HNSCC patients undergoing definitive (chemo)radiation between 2010 and 2019 was analyzed. The influence of antibiotic administration on locoregional control, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was determined using Kaplan-Meier and Cox analyses.A total of 154 patients were treated with antibiotics within 30 days before (chemo)radiation (pretherapeutic) or during (chemo)radiation (peritherapeutic). While antibiotic prescription was not associated with age, ECOG, tumor localization or radiotherapy characteristics, patients treated with antibiotics had significantly higher tumor stages. Peritherapeutic antibiotic administration diminished PFS (HR = 1.397, p < 0.05, log-rank test) and OS (HR = 1.407, p < 0.05), whereas pretherapeutic administration did not. Antibiotic application was an independent prognosticator for OS (HR = 1.703, p < 0.05) and PFS (HR = 1.550, p < 0.05) in the multivariate Cox analysis within the subgroup of patients aged < 75 years.Peritherapeutic antibiotic usage was associated with impaired oncological outcomes in HNSCC patients undergoing (chemo)radiation. Further studies including microbiome analyses are required to elucidate underlying mechanisms.

Keyword(s): Antibiotics ; Chemoradiation ; Head-and-neck cancer ; Head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma ; Radiotherapy

Note: #LA:E055# / 2023 May;280(5):2605-2616

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. E055 KKE Molekulare Radioonkologie (E055)
2. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Freiburg (FR01)

Research Program(s):

1. 315 - Bildgebung und Radioonkologie (POF4-315) (POF4-315)

Appears in the scientific report 2023

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; DEAL Springer ; DEAL Springer ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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