Future oncology (London, England)Dec 17, 2025

Using antibiotics to help fecal transplant with immunotherapy for esophageal and stomach cancer

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Mar 29, 2026

Abstract

A total of 7 patients have been enrolled in a phase I - II trial evaluating fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with advanced esophageal or gastric cancer.

Fecal microbiota transplantation following antibiotic pretreatment may influence the therapeutic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
The primary endpoint of the study is to assess the incidence of dose-limiting toxicity associated with the treatment.
Secondary endpoints include evaluating response rates, disease control rates, progression-free survival, overall survival, and adverse events.
Comprehensive research is being conducted to analyze immune responses and identify biomarkers linked to the efficacy of the fecal microbiota transplantation and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Simplified

AIMS: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes in several malignancies, but survival remains poor for patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent esophageal or gastric cancer. Recent evidence suggests that modulation of the intestinal microbiota may influence the therapeutic response to ICIs. This study aims to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation following antibiotic pretreatment (A-FMT) in patients scheduled to receive ICI-containing regimens.

METHODS: This phase I - II, single-institution clinical trial enrolls patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent esophageal or gastric cancer. Participants receive a 1-week course of oral antibiotics (amoxicillin, fosfomycin, and metronidazole) prior to transplantation. A single dose of donor-derived intestinal microbiota solution is administered via colonoscopy, followed by initiation of ICI-based therapy on the next day. The primary endpoint is the incidence of dose-limiting toxicity. Secondary endpoints include response rate, disease control rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and adverse events. Comprehensive translational research is conducted using stool, blood, and tissue samples to characterize immune responses and identify biomarkers associated with A-FMT and ICI efficacy.jRCTs031240170.The study is ongoing, and patients are currently being enrolled. Enrollment started in June 2024. A total of 7 patients have been enrolled as of August 2025. This protocol is version 3.2. Trial registration:

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Using antibiotics to help fecal transplant with immunotherapy for esophageal and stomach cancer

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