Bacteria Inside Brain Tumors Could Affect How They Behave

For decades, the brain has been viewed as a sterile organ—protected by the blood–brain barrier and insulated from microbial life. The notion that bacteria could exist within brain tissue was once considered impossible. A new Nature Medicine study from MD Anderson overturns that assumption, revealing that bacterial signatures can be found within tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment.

“This work opens a new dimension in our understanding of brain tumor biology,” said Jennifer Wargo, MD, professor of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine and core member of the James P. Allison Institute™. “By mapping how microbial elements influence the brain tumor microenvironment, we may be able to identify new therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for patients facing these devastating