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. 2016 Jun 28;115(1):85-9.
doi: 10.1038/bjc.2016.148. Epub 2016 May 24.

Associations of antibiotic use with risk of primary liver cancer in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink

Baiyu Yang  1 , Katrina Wilcox Hagberg  2 , Jie Chen  1 , Vikrant V Sahasrabuddhe  1   3 , Barry I Graubard  1 , Susan Jick  2 , Katherine A McGlynn  1
Affiliations

Associations of antibiotic use with risk of primary liver cancer in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink

Baiyu Yang et al. Br J Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Use of antibiotics could alter human microbiota composition and decrease bacterial diversity. Such microbial dysbiosis may have implications in hepatocarcinogenesis; however, the association between antibiotic use and liver cancer risk has been minimally examined in humans.

Methods: We performed a nested case-control study (1195 primary liver cancer cases and 4640 matched controls) within the United Kingdom's Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Antibiotic use was obtained from prescription records. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression.

Results: Ever-use of prescription antibiotics was associated with a slightly increased risk of liver cancer, compared to non-use (OR=1.22, 95% CI=1.03-1.45). However, there was no clear dose-response relationship by the number of prescriptions or cumulative dose of antibiotic use, suggesting a non-causal association.

Conclusions: Our results do not support a role of antibiotic use in liver cancer development.

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