Abstract
BACKGROUND: Microbiome dysbiosis predisposes to colorectal cancer (CRC), but a population-based study of oral antibiotic exposure and CRC risk is lacking. METHODS: A matched case–control study (incident CRC cases and up to 5 matched controls) was conducted in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD; 1989–2012). The CRPD is validated as 92% and 99% sensitive and specific for CRC detection (98% PPV). Antibiotic exposure [categorical and continuous terms (spline)] was investigated for risk pattern, stratified by tumor location, using conditional logistic regression and adjusting for known confounders. RESULTS: In total, 28,980 CRC cases and 137,077 controls were identified. Oral antibiotic use increased risk of colon cancer in a dose-dependent fashion (P(trend) < 0.001), but effects differed by anatomic location. Colon cancer risk was greatest in the proximal colon and with antibiotics with anti-anaerobic activity (Figure 1). In contrast, an inverse association was detected between antibiotic use and rectal cancers (P(trend) = 0.003), particularly with length of antibiotic exposure >60 days (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.93) when compared with no antibiotic exposure. Nonlinearity models showed significantly increased colon cancer risk after minimal antibiotic use, but decreased rectum cancer risk with cumulative use of over 30 days (Figure 2). Penicillins, particularly ampicillin/amoxicillin, increased risk of colon cancer (AOR,1.09, [1.05–1.13]) whereas tetracyclines reduced risk for rectal cancer (AOR, 0.90, [0.84–0.97]). Significant interactions were detected between antibiotic use and tumor location (colon vs. rectum, P(interaction) < 0.001). The antibiotic-cancer association was found for antibiotic exposure occurring >10 years before diagnosis (AOR, 1.17, [1.06–1.31]). CONCLUSION: We conclude that oral antibiotic use associates with increased colon cancer risk, particularly in the right colon, but a reduced risk for rectal cancer. This effect heterogeneity suggests unabsorbed antibiotics impact gut microbiota in the right colon to enhance carcinogenesis whereas antibiotic anti-inflammatory or anti-proliferative actions may yield an inverse effect on carcinogenesis in the rectum. DISCLOSURES: Sara E. Cosgrove, MD, MS, Basilea: Consultant; Theravance: Consultant.