Potential role of intratumor bacteria in mediating tumor resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine

In this study, we describe the presence of bacteria within human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors. We found that some of these bacteria can metabolize the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine, and that this drug metabolism is dependent on the expression of the long isoform of the bacterial enzyme, cytidine deaminase. Our results indicate that some PDAC tumors contain bacteria that can potentially modulate tumor sensitivity to gemcitabine.

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