RESUMEN
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Endoscopic remission is presently recognized as the standard therapeutic target in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, achieving histological remission is increasingly viewed as a pivotal objective. This study investigates the effects of attaining completely histological remission on the clinical outcomes for UC patients with a high disease burden who have already reached endoscopic remission. This is the inaugural study to concentrate on this specific patient demographic. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled moderate-to-severe, biologics-experienced UC patients with completely endoscopic remission (Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0) between June 2017 and October 2023 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou. Patients were classified into histological remission (HR) and non-histological remission (non-HR) groups based on the Nancy index (NI). HR was defined as an NI score of 0, with all other patients categorized as non-HR. The definition of flare-ups was based on both clinical and endoscopic evidence. Comparative analyses focused on baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes at follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients (HR group: 23, non-HR group: 19) were included. The average follow-up duration was 17.6 months. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. At the end of follow-up, the HR group showed a significantly lower rate of acute flare-ups (26.1% vs. 68.4%, P = 0.006). Although not statistically significant, the HR group also experienced fewer emergency department visits and hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: For moderate-to-severe, biologics-experienced UC patients in endoscopic remission, achieving completely histological remission is associated with a substantial reduction in flare-ups, suggesting its potential as a valuable therapeutic target.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There is currently no well-accepted consensus on the association between gut microbiota and the response to treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected before ICI treatment. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16 S ribosomal RNA sequencing. We investigated the relationship between the α-diversity of fecal microbiota and patients' clinical outcomes. Microbiota profiles from patients and healthy controls were determined. Pre-treatment serum was examined by cytokine array. RESULTS: We analyzed 74 patients, including 42 with melanoma, 8 with kidney cancer, 13 with lung cancer, and 11 with other cancers. Combination therapy of anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA-4 was used in 14 patients, and monotherapy in the rest. Clinical benefit was observed in 35 (47.3 %) cases, including 2 complete responses, 16 partial responses, and 17 stable diseases according to RECIST criteria. No significant difference in α-diversity was found between the benefiter and non-benefiter groups. However, patients with α-diversity within the range of our healthy control had a significantly longer median overall survival (18.9 months), compared to the abnormal group (8.2 months) (p = 0.041, hazard ratio = 0.546) for all patients. The microbiota composition of the benefiters was similar to that of healthy individuals. Furthermore, specific bacteria, such as Prevotella copri and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, were associated with a favorable outcome. We also observed that serum IL-18 before treatment was significantly lower in the benefiters, compared to non-benefiters. CONCLUSIONS: The α-diversity of gut microbiota is positively correlated with more prolonged overall survival in cancer patients following ICI therapy.
