Human tumors consist of many different cell types with varying functions that influence cancer growth and treatment responses. Large-scale analyses of human cancers reveal the presence of bacterial communities within tumors, especially in cancers along the gastrointestinal tract - from the oral cavity to the colorectum. Studies of these cancers demonstrate that patients with tumors containing specific bacteria face poorer outcomes and an increased risk of cancer recurrence after treatment. Our prior research indicates that these bacteria travel with the cancer when it spreads during metastasis, and targeted killing of specific bacteria within human tumors can reduce tumor growth. The goal of t...

Read More

Human tumors consist of many different cell types with varying functions that influence cancer growth and treatment responses. Large-scale analyses of human cancers reveal the presence of bacterial communities within tumors, especially in cancers along the gastrointestinal tract - from the oral cavity to the colorectum. Studies of these cancers demonstrate that patients with tumors containing specific bacteria face poorer outcomes and an increased risk of cancer recurrence after treatment. Our prior research indicates that these bacteria travel with the cancer when it spreads during metastasis, and targeted killing of specific bacteria within human tumors can reduce tumor growth. The goal of this project is to enhance our understanding of how bacteria within tumors impact cancer development, growth, and patient responses to cancer treatments. This research program utilizes cutting-edge technologies to determine how these bacteria function within human tumors and employs model systems to reveal how these bacteria interact with other tumor components in promoting cancer progression and resistance to treatments. Additionally, building on previous findings that reducing these microorganisms can slow tumor growth, an additional aim is to develop a treatment that targets and eliminates specific tumor-promoting bacteria. The effectiveness of this drug will undergo testing as a potential therapy in preclinical mouse models before progressing to clinical trials. This research is dedicated to advancing our knowledge of oral, esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers by determining how bacteria within these tumors contribute to cancer growth and resistance to cancer treatments. Our goal is to identify new targets for cancer treatment and develop innovative strategies to intervene in these infection-associated cancers, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Read Less