Impact of antibiotics on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of primary liver cancer

Background and aim: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used in the treatment of liver cancer. However, the interaction with other drugs may change the efficacy of ICIs. Few studies investigated the effects of antibiotics (ATBs) on the efficacy of immunotherapy and the survival of patients with primary liver cancer receiving immunotherapy. This study aimed to explore the impact of ATBs on the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with primary liver cancer. Methods: In total, 215 patients with primary liver cancer who received ICIs from June 2018 to October 2020 were included for retrospective analysis. The progression-free survival (PFS), disease control rate (DCR), and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients treated with and without ATBs within 30 days before and after immunotherapy. Results: No significant differences in PFS (P = 0.376) and OS (P = 0.121) were found between patients treated with and without ATBs. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that using ATBs was not associated with PFS, DCR, and OS. Conclusion: The use of ATBs within 30 days before and after immunotherapy in patients with primary liver cancer had no adverse effects on PFS, DCR, and OS.