{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "62fda3dd52cc41879536b28833a78136", "timestamp": "2026-08-22T07:47:54.226Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/62fda3dd52cc41879536b28833a78136.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/62fda3dd52cc41879536b28833a78136"}}, "title": "Antibiotic use and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.", "authors": [{"family": "Simin", "given": "Johanna", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0003-1611-139X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/cd509478f65a4271acd1a2889da10cb4.json"}}, {"family": "Fornes", "given": "Romina", "initials": "R"}, {"family": "Liu", "given": "Qing", "initials": "Q"}, {"family": "Olsen", "given": "Renate Slind", "initials": "RS"}, {"family": "Callens", "given": "Steven", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Engstrand", "given": "Lars", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Brusselaers", "given": "Nele", "initials": "N"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2020-12-00", "journal": {"title": "Br. J. Cancer", "issn": "1532-1827", "volume": "123", "issue": "12", "pages": "1825-1832", "issn-l": "0007-0920"}, "abstract": "It is understudied whether the posed association of oral antibiotics with colorectal cancer (CRC) varies between antibiotic spectrums, colorectal continuum, and if a non-linear dose-dependent relationship is present.\n\nThree electronic databases and a trial platform were searched for all relevant studies, from inception until February 2020, without restrictions. Random-effects meta-analyses provided pooled effect-sizes (ES) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Dose-response analyses modelling the relationship between number of days exposed to antibiotics and CRC risk were extended to non-linear multivariable random-effects models.\n\nOf 6483 identified publications ten were eligible, including 4.1 million individuals and over 73,550 CRC cases. The pooled CRC risk was increased among individuals who ever-used antibiotics (ES = 1.17, 95%CI 1.05-1.30), particularly for broad-spectrum antibiotics (ES = 1.70, 95%CI 1.26-2.30), but not for narrow-spectrum antibiotic (ES = 1.11, 95% 0.93-1.32). The dose-response analysis did not provide strong evidence of any particular dose-response association, and the risk patterns were rather similar for colon and rectal cancer.\n\nThe antibiotic use associated CRC risk seemingly differs between broad- and narrow-spectrum antibiotics, and possibly within the colorectal continuum. It remains unclear whether this association is causal, requiring more mechanistic studies and further clarification of drug-microbiome interactions.", "doi": "10.1038/s41416-020-01082-2", "pmid": "32968205", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC7722751"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1038/s41416-020-01082-2"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-21T11:47:24.295Z", "modified": "2026-08-21T11:47:24.361Z"}