The human tumor microbiome is composed of tumor type–specific intracellular bacteria

In this study we undertook a comprehensive analysis of the tumor microbiome, studying over 1,500 tumors and their adjacent normal tissues across multiple cancer types. We found that each tumor type has a distinct microbiome composition and that breast cancer has a particularly rich and diverse microbiome. The intratumor bacteria are mostly intracellular and are present in both cancer and immune cells. We also found correlations between intratumor bacteria or bacterial inferred functions with tumor types and subtypes, patients’ smoking status, and the response to immunotherapy.

Links to paper: Reprint

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Drawing by V. Altounian (Science)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drawing by Beata Edyta Mierzwa (www.BeataScienceArt.com)

Journal name: 
Science, 2020