Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Tumor Microenvironment

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...

The Tumor Microenvironment

The Tumor Microenvironment

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity,...

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...

The Oral Microbiota

The Oral Microbiota

The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...

The Skin Microbiota

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Long-lasting gut microbiome and fecal metabolome alterations after colorectal adenoma removal and their relationship to colorectal cancer.

Cell host & microbe·2026

Same author

Dietary sulfur amino acids enhance anti-tumor immunity in colon cancer via an NKT cell-XCL1-cDC1 circuit.

Immunity·2026

Same author

Western diet suppresses canonical intestinal stem cells and reprograms c-Kit⁺ reserve stem cells via proinflammatory dysbiosis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

A sweet side to fusobacteria.

Cell host & microbe·2026

Same author

Acetoacetate suppresses colon cancer via an MR1-MAIT axis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

Antibody Responses to 11 Fusobacterium Proteins and Colorectal Cancer-Specific and Overall Survival in the EPIC Cohort.

Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Characterization and Functional Prediction of Bacteria in Ovarian Tissues

Characterization and Functional Prediction of Bacteria in Ovarian Tissues

Published on: October 23, 2021

Cancer and the microbiota.

Wendy S Garrett¹

¹Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases and Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|April 4, 2015

Summary

The human microbiota can influence cancer development and treatment. Understanding these microbial roles is key for new cancer diagnostics and therapies.

More Related Videos

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

A Method to Define the Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Colon Microbiome Biodiversity in a Mouse Colon Tumor Model

A Method to Define the Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Colon Microbiome Biodiversity in a Mouse Colon Tumor Model

Published on: February 28, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Characterization and Functional Prediction of Bacteria in Ovarian Tissues

Characterization and Functional Prediction of Bacteria in Ovarian Tissues

Published on: October 23, 2021

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

A Method to Define the Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Colon Microbiome Biodiversity in a Mouse Colon Tumor Model

A Method to Define the Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Colon Microbiome Biodiversity in a Mouse Colon Tumor Model

Published on: February 28, 2018

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Oncology
Immunology

Background:

The human microbiota plays a complex role in cancer susceptibility.
Interactions between microbes, host genetics, and environmental factors are crucial in carcinogenesis.
Microbial influence on cancer treatment response and complications is an emerging area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the multifaceted roles of microbes and the microbiota in cancer.
To explore how the microbiota impacts carcinogenesis and cancer therapy.
To highlight the potential of microbiota-based strategies for cancer management.

Main Methods:

Literature review of current research on host-microbiota interactions in cancer.
Analysis of studies investigating microbial contributions to cancer development.
Synthesis of findings on microbiota's effect on cancer treatment efficacy and side effects.

Main Results:

Microbiota can either promote or inhibit cancer progression.
Specific microbial compositions are linked to varying cancer risks.
The microbiota influences patient responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

The host microbiota is a significant factor in cancer etiology and progression.
Targeting the microbiota holds promise for novel cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
Further research into host-microbe-environment interactions is essential for advancing cancer care.