The microbiome encompasses all the microorganisms and viruses that reside in a particular environment in the body. Recent research on the relationship between the gut microbiome and a person’s health has led to an increased understanding of how specific microbiota can benefit or hinder the immune response in cancer patients and an individual’s response to cancer treatment.

A new publication in Cell Systems highlights the value of understanding the connections between microbiota and cancer therapy. The study demonstrates that a bacterium associated with colorectal cancer can elicit an anti-cancer effect on tumor cells.

The researchers employed a rigorous four-way screening approach to meticulously examine the molecular-level interactions between the host, microbe, drug, and nutrient. This comprehensive screening approach identified a metabolite, 2-methylisocitrate, that was upregulated in human tumor-associated microbiota, providing a solid foundation for the study’s findings.