"Cell" Westlake University team found evidence that bacteria help cancer cells metastasize!

Cell, April 7: Bacteria promote cancer metastasis by enhancing the host cell's ability to resist mechanical stress in the bloodstream and promoting cell survival during tumor progression

Microbes play a key role in influencing cancer susceptibility and tumor progression, especially in colorectal cancer

Whether these microbes are passengers or drivers of tumor progression has been an interesting question

To solve this problem, Cai Shang's group from the Life Science and Biomedical Laboratory of West Lake University used a mouse model of breast cancer with a large number of bacteria in its cells, similar to human breast cancer

A single shot of bacteria in a breast tumor can start metastasizing tumors that otherwise rarely metastasize

"Our study shows that the behavior of cancer cells is also controlled by microbes hidden inside tumors that were initially thought to be sterile," said Cai Shang

Therefore, the intracellular microbiota may be a potential target for early prevention of widespread cancer metastasis, which is much better than later treatment

Although the study revealed a clear role for intratumoral bacteria in promoting metastatic colonization of cancer cells, the authors did not rule out the possibility that the gut microbiota and immune system might work together with intratumoral bacteria to determine cancer progression

Tumor resident intracellular microbiota promotes metastatic colonization in breast cancer

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