Postbiotics for Mitigation of Postoperative Dysbiosis in Colon Cancer Surgery

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · Jul 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether taking postbiotic supplements—these are products made from helpful bacteria—can help balance the gut after surgery for colon cancer. Surgery can sometimes disrupt the natural mix of bacteria in the gut, which may affect recovery. The study will check if these supplements improve gut health by measuring changes in the variety of bacteria found in stool samples before and after surgery.

People who might join this study are adults diagnosed with colon cancer that has not spread, who are planning to have planned (not emergency) laparoscopic surgery to remove the cancer. To be eligible, participants should not have taken antibiotics recently or be using other similar supplements like probiotics or prebiotics. Those interested will provide stool samples before and after surgery to see how their gut bacteria change, and they will take the postbiotic supplements during this time. The study is not yet recruiting participants but aims to better understand how to support gut health after colon cancer surgery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Recently diagnosed with nonmetastatic colon cancer, not treated with neoadjuvant therapy, and scheduled for an elective laparoscopic curative-intent colon cancer resection in ≥ 10 days
• • 2. Able and willing to provide informed consent
• • 3. Age 18 years and above
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Currently taking prebiotic, probiotic, or postbiotic supplements
• • 2. Exposed to antibiotics in the 3 months prior to enrollment (per patient-provided history)
• • 3. Unlikely to comply with protocol as determined by Investigator
• • 4. With ileostomies, as these will preclude colonic stool sampling
• • 5. Prior use of any investigational drug in the preceding 6 months prior to enrollment
• • 6. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease
• • 7. Inability to give consent due to a mental condition that makes the participant unable to understand the study's nature, scope, and possible consequences.
• • 8. Emergency surgery
• • 9. Prisoners
• • 10. Known allergy or intolerance to ingredients commonly used in gummy supplements (e.g., gelatin, corn syrup, artificial colors, or natural flavors)