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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2026; 32(44): 122438
Published online Nov 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.122438
Published online Nov 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.122438
Microbiota-nutrition sequential therapy for refractory radiation proctitis: A case report
Tao Huang, Yu-Long He, Ling Chen, Shi-Tao Huang, Li-Ping Liu, The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Guang Fu, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Wuhan Puren Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China
Li-Ping Liu, Department of Emergency Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Department, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Author contributions: Huang T and He YL contributed to manuscript writing and editing; Fu G contributed to data collection; Chen L contributed to manuscript writing; Huang ST contributed to review and editing; Liu LP contributed to conceptualization and supervision; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: No artificial intelligence tools were utilized during the drafting, revision, and preparation of this manuscript. All writing, data analysis, figure production, and content verification were independently completed by the authors. The authors bear full responsibility for all contents of the manuscript.
Supported by Gansu Provincial Science and Technology Department, No. 20JR5RA35 and No. 22JR10KA009; Lanzhou Chengguan District Science and Technology Bureau, No. 2020RCCX0030; and Gansu Natural Science Foundation, No. 25JRRA567.
Informed consent statement: The participant provided written informed consent prior to study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Li-Ping Liu, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Emergency Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Department, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, No. 1 Donggang West Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
Received: April 20, 2026
Revised: July 11, 2026
Accepted: July 28, 2026
Published online: November 28, 2026
Processing time: 163 Days and 14.5 Hours
Revised: July 11, 2026
Accepted: July 28, 2026
Published online: November 28, 2026
Processing time: 163 Days and 14.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This case demonstrates that combining fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) with immunomodulatory enteral nutrition can achieve sustained clinical remission in refractory radiation proctitis after only two FMT courses, outperforming previous FMT-alone reports that required 4-7 sessions. The concurrent restoration of gut microbiota diversity, enrichment of beneficial genera (Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides), and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines suggest a synergistic effect of nutritional support and microbial reconstruction in radiation-induced intestinal injury. These preliminary observations, however, warrant confirmation in larger prospective studies.