Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports
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Multifaceted metabolic role of infections in the tumor microenvironment

Hanna F Willenbockel1, Birte Dowerg1, Thekla Cordes1

  • 1Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; Research Group Cellular Metabolism in Infection, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.

Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|August 28, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Microorganisms like bacteria and viruses significantly impact tumor growth by altering the tumor microenvironment (TME). Engineered microbes offer promising new strategies for cancer detection and treatment, focusing on metabolic reprogramming.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The influence of microorganisms on tumor development is a recognized phenomenon.
  • Recent research highlights the expanded role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in hosting microbial communities.
  • Infections can reprogram tumor cell metabolism and modulate immune responses, affecting cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on how bacteria and viruses mechanistically affect the TME.
  • To explore therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment that leverage microbial interactions and metabolic alterations.
  • To discuss the potential of engineered bacteria and viruses in novel cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent discoveries on microbial impact on TME.
  • Analysis of mechanisms underlying microbial influence on tumor cell metabolism and immunity.
  • Examination of current and emerging cancer therapy strategies involving microbes.

Main Results:

  • Microbial infections induce significant metabolic reprogramming within the TME.
  • These infections modulate immune responses, with dual effects on tumor proliferation and metastasis.
  • The inherent ability of microbes to alter the TME is being harnessed for cancer detection and treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteria and viruses play a complex role in cancer, influencing tumor growth and metastasis.
  • Targeting microbial-induced metabolic alterations presents a promising avenue for cancer therapy.
  • Engineered bacteria and viruses represent a novel frontier for developing effective cancer treatments.

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