Antibiotics may influence cancer immunotherapy by disrupting gut bacteria that help shape immune responses. An updated review combined 116 patient groups involving 97,850 patients receiving treatments that help the immune system attack cancer. Antibiotic exposure was associated with higher rates of death and cancer progression or death during follow-up. These findings do not prove antibiotics caused worse outcomes: infections and more severe illness could partly explain the association. The practical takeaway is to avoid unnecessary antibiotics while promptly treating genuine infections. Patients should discuss recent antibiotic use with their cancer care team, not stop prescribed treatment themselves. The authors also discuss ways to protect or restore gut bacteria, but the abstract does not establish that any particular approach improves survival. This summary is based on the abstract only.
