The present invention relates to the role of the microbiota in the efficacy of cancer treatments with a drug blocking an immune checkpoint, and provides methods and probiotics to improve the efficacy of such a treatment in patients in need thereof. More particularly, the invention pertains to the use of vancomycin or penicillin to modulate the gut microbiota to potentiate the anticancer effects of anti-CTLA4 molecules. B. fragilis can also be used as a probiotic to that aim.