Researchers have uncovered unexpected traces of bacteria within brain tumors. The data revealed that bacterial genetic and cellular elements were present inside brain tumor cells and across the tumor microenvironment. These bacterial components appeared biologically active, potentially influencing tumor behavior and progression in patients with gliomas and brain metastases.
The multi-institutional study was led by Golnaz Morad, D.D.S, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow in Surgical Oncology, and Jennifer Wargo, M.D., professor of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine and core member of the James P. Allison Institute™ – working in close collaboration with MD Anderson’s Platform for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR), the Cancer Neuroscience Program and other institutional programs.