Intratumoral microbiota in tumorigenesis: A double-edged sword.
Xinyue Fu1, Hao Chen2, Meihang Du3
1Division of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
Chinese Medical Journal
|July 6, 2026
Summary
The intratumoral microbiota, comprising diverse microbes within tumors, significantly impacts cancer initiation, progression, and treatment response. Understanding its mechanisms offers new avenues for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Microbiology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics reveal diverse microbial communities within tumor tissues, termed intratumoral microbiota.
- Intratumoral microbiota, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea, are implicated in tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the composition, ecology, and functions of intratumoral microbiota.
- To emphasize the dual regulatory roles of intratumoral microbiota in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and recurrence.
- To explore mechanistic pathways and clinical applications of intratumoral microbiota in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies on intratumoral microbiota.
- Analysis of microbial composition, ecological characteristics, and functional roles.
- Identification of mechanistic pathways influencing tumor biology.
Main Results:
- Intratumoral microbiota exhibit complex ecological characteristics and functional roles in cancer.
- Four principal mechanistic pathways (receptor-mediated signaling, metabolic reprogramming, effector molecule secretion, intracellular invasion) are identified.
- The microbiota's dual regulatory effects on tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis, and recurrence are highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Intratumoral microbiota are crucial players in cancer development and progression.
- Understanding these microbial communities provides novel insights into tumor biology.
- Translational potential exists for intratumoral microbiota in cancer diagnosis, therapy, and prevention.
Keywords:
Cancer progressionIntratumoral microbiotaMicrobiota-based therapyMicrobiota–immuneTumor microenvironmentMore Related Videos
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