Impact of antibiotic use during curative treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancers with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nenclares, Pablo; Bhide, Sheerang A.; Sandoval-Insausti, Helena; Pialat, Pierre; Gunn, Lucinda; Melcher, Alan; Newbold, Kate; Nutting, Christopher M.; Harrington, Kevin J.
• Is Part Of: European journal of cancer. Volume 131(2020)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Head and neck neoplasms -- Anti-bacterial agents -- Microbiota -- Radiotherapy -- Chemotherapy; Cancer -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Périodiques; Cancer; Tumors; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.02.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-8049

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Pre-clinical evidence suggests reduced efficacy of anticancer treatment in patients exposed to broad-spectrum antibiotics. It is hypothesised that this phenomenon may be explained by the effects of antibiotics on the composition of the microbiota. To assess this in a clinical setting, we analysed the impact of antibiotics in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC) treated with curative intent with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT). Material and methods: Retrospective data for LAHNC patients treated with curative intent (245 induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation [CRT], 17 surgery followed by post-operative CRT, six CRT, three RT alone and one RT with concurrent cetuximab) were analysed. We evaluated the impact of antibiotics prescribed during primary anti-cancer treatment on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates by multivariate Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: Among 272 patients, those receiving antibiotics between within 1 week before and 2 weeks after treatment ( N = 124) progressed significantly earlier and had lower OS and DSS rates. In the multivariate analysis, administration of antibiotics was independently associated with reduced PFS (hazards ratio [HR] 1.98, P = 0.001), OS (HR 1.85, P = 0.001) and DSS (HR 1.95, P = 0.004). This effect was maintained with independence of reason for prescription, type and time of antibiotic prescription. The negative impact was greater for patients who received two or more courses of antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment was correlated with increased risk of locoregional relapse. Conclusions: Our data suggest a negative impact of antibiotic therapy on treatment outcomes following CRT with curative intent in patients with LAHNC. This potential harm should be considered when prescribing broad-spectrum and prophylactic antibiotics for such patients. Highlights: Microbiota changes may have a role on anti-cancer treatment efficacy. Antibiotics during the oncologic treatment associated with worse survival in LAHNC. Antibiotic treatment correlated with increased risk of locoregional relapse.