Anja Bullegas

Mrs. Anja Bullegas

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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29 January 2026 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ABAnja Bullegas
Anja Bullegas
ISInna Shaforostova
Inna Shaforostova
KSKatja Seipel
Katja Seipel
MKMarie-Noëlle Kronig
Marie-Noëlle Kronig
HNHenning Nilius
Henning Nilius
Thomas PabstThomas Pabst
Thomas Pabst
Background/Objectives: CAR-T-cell therapy has become a key treatment for relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL), although patient outcomes differ considerably. The intestinal microbiome has been proposed as an important factor influencing CAR-T-cell therapy efficacy; accordingly, antibiotic exposure, which may induce dysbiosis, has been associated with inferior outcomes after CAR-T-cell therapy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 140 patients to assess the impact of infection-related antibiotic therapy prior to CAR-T-cell therapy, stratifying them into two cohorts: 67 patients with previous antibiotic exposure and 73 without exposure. Results: Patients exposed to antibiotics prior to CAR-T therapy had significantly reduced progression-free survival (p = 0.016) and overall survival (p = 0.002) compared to those without exposure. Multiple antibiotic courses and shorter intervals between the last antibiotic treatment and CAR-T-cell therapy were linked to poorer outcomes. Conclusions: Our data suggest that pre-CAR-T-cell-therapy antibiotic exposure is associated with inferior outcomes, although it remains unclear whether this effect is causal or reflects underlying patient comorbidities. These findings highlight the need for further studies investigating the role of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis on CAR-T-cell therapy efficacy.