Lenvatinib Improves the Relative Abundance of Probiotics in Intestinal Flora of Patients with Primary Liver Cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background Lenvatinibis commonly used systemic therapeutic drugs for patients with advanced Primary Liver Cancer (PLC). Recent studies have found that gut microbiota can regulate the efficacy of anti-tumor drugs. However, the relationship between antiangiogenic drugs and intestinal flora is not clear, and there is no relevant clinical research. Methods We investigated Lenvatinib's impact on PLC patients' intestinal flora. Fecal samples from pre- and post-treatment PLC patients were analyzed via 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. Results Notably, Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, and other genera varied between groups at the genus level. The relative abundance of probiotics (Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus) significantly rose post-treatment. The Lefse analysis revealed significant differences. Following Lenvatinib treatment, PLC patients exhibited 12 biomarkers, including Clostridia, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacteriaceae, Bifidobacteriales, Faecalibacterium, Butyricicoccus, Butyricicoccaceae, Ruminococcaceae-uncultured, Ruminococcaceae-Incertae_Sedis, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG_010. Conclusions Lenvatinib increased the relative abundance of probiotics in PLC patients' intestinal flora, suggesting therapeutic implications.