Association between the use of antibiotics and efficacy of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel in advanced pancreatic cancer
Shintaro Nakano, Yoshito Komatsu, Yasuyuki Kawamoto, Rika Saito, Ken Ito, Hiroshi Nakatsumi, Satoshi Yuki, Naoya Sakamoto
Abstract
It is unclear whether the use of antibiotics is related to the efficacy of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP). Therefore, we investigated the association between the use of antibiotics and efficacy of GnP.We conducted a retrospective single center study from January 2014 to December 2018 in Hokkaido University Hospital.Ninety-nine patients were eligible for the study. Thirty-seven used antibiotics (U) and 62 did not use antibiotics (NU) during GnP therapy. In the U group, 15 patients used β-lactam antibiotics, 21 used new quinolones, and 1 used carbapenem. The median progression-free survival was 5.8 and 2.7 months (hazards ratio [HR] .602, 95% confidence interval [CI] .391-.928, P = .022) and the median overall survival was 11.0 and 8.4 months (HR .768, 95% CI .491-1.202, P = .248) in the U and not use antibiotics groups, respectively. Antibiotic use (HR .489, 95% CI .287-.832, P = .008) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (HR 1.808, 95% CI 1.051-3.112, P = .032) were independent prognostic factors for progression-free survival.Antibiotic use was associated with a higher efficacy of GnP, and therefore, it may be employed as a novel treatment strategy.