Antibiotics impair response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Timing of broad-spectrum antimicrobials 'crucial' to patient response, researchers say
antibiotics

Cancer patients given broad-spectrum antibiotics up to a month before starting immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy have greatly reduced chances of survival, a study suggests.

An association between prior antibiotic use and poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy persists regardless of tumour site and the class of antibiotic used, the UK researchers say.