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Published on: January 7, 2019
Intratumoral Microorganisms in Tumors: Current Understanding and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
Haoling Zhang1,2,3, Zengkan Du4, Ping Lu3
1Kidney Institute of CPLA, Department of Nephrology, Changzheng Hospital Navy Medical University Shanghai China.
Medcomm
|May 7, 2026
Summary
The tumor microbiota, or microbes within tumors, significantly influences cancer development and treatment response. Understanding these complex interactions is key to developing new precision oncology strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Microbiome Research
- Immunology
Background:
- Tumor tissues harbor detectable microbial communities, termed the intratumoral microbiota.
- These microbes are increasingly linked to cancer progression and therapeutic outcomes.
- Existing research is fragmented, lacking systematic consolidation across diverse cancer types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review intratumoral microbiota composition and function in cancer.
- To explore mechanisms of microbial influence, including immune and metabolic modulation.
- To discuss clinical applications in precision oncology and therapeutic development.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of high-throughput sequencing, spatial omics, and multiomics studies.
- Analysis of microbial diversity and tumor-type-specific associations.
- Synthesis of evidence on microbial mechanisms and clinical translation.
Main Results:
- Intratumoral microbiota composition varies significantly across tumor types and microenvironments.
- Microbes impact cancer via immune modulation, metabolic reprogramming, and signaling pathways.
- Microbiota-derived metabolites play crucial roles in cancer progression and treatment response.
Conclusions:
- The intratumoral microbiota is a dynamic regulatory layer in cancer biology.
- Integrating microbiome data can enhance precision oncology and patient stratification.
- Targeting the tumor microbiome offers novel therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment.
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