The metabolic dialogue between intratumoral microbes and cancer: implications for immunotherapy
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 4-Aug-2025 22:11 ET (5-Aug-2025 02:11 GMT/UTC)
This review critically assesses the influence of intratumoral microbial metabolites on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunotherapy, which are comprehensively examined in regulating immune responses and tumor progression. Furthermore, we investigate the potential of these metabolites to augment the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies, with particular emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibitors.
In the tumor microenvironment (TME), B cells' anti-tumor and tumor-promoting functions have drawn a lot of interest lately. One of the mainstays of cancer treatment, chemotherapy affects the function and proliferation of several B-cell subsets as well as how they interact with the TME. Targeting B cells or the cells that surround them may improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy by altering B-cell function, offering a viable direction for further research into tumor therapies.
Researchers integrated machine learning with multi-tiered validation to identify FDA-approved non-lipid-lowering drugs with lipid-modifying potential. From 3,430 drugs screened, 29 candidates emerged. Clinical data and mouse studies confirmed four drugs significantly improved lipid profiles. Molecular docking revealed novel binding mechanisms to targets. This approach accelerates drug repurposing, offering new options for hyperlipidemia patients unresponsive to conventional therapies.
We analyzed fungal communities in kidney tumors from 1,044 patients across four international studies. Patients with abundant tumor fungi had worse survival outcomes and reduced response to immunotherapy. These fungi may suppress fat breakdown processes and weaken immune T cells that fight cancer. We developed predictive tools using fungal signatures that accurately forecast treatment success in kidney and other cancers. One fungal species, Aspergillus tanneri, was particularly linked to poor outcomes.
The limitations of conventional electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials in terms of high-temperature resistance have stimulated interest in the development of high-temperature EMW absorbing materials across various fields. However, due to the temperature dependence of the permittivity, achieving effective EMW absorption across a wide temperature range remains a significant challenge for high-temperature EMW absorbing materials. Herein, a novel molecular-scale strategy is proposed for in-situ construction multi-heterointerface during the polymer-derived ceramics process, thereby achieving temperature-insensitive permittivity. This approach to developing temperature-insensitive dielectric ceramics significantly improves the performance and functionality of high-temperature EMW absorbing materials, thereby providing substantial guidance and reference value.
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a critical role in nutrient cycling and microbial dynamics across ecosystems, but its complexity poses major analytical challenges. To address this, a team led by Prof. Jianjun Wang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed iDOM, a powerful new R package for the statistical analysis and visualization of DOM data. Designed to integrate DOM composition with environmental and microbial factors, iDOM enables researchers to unravel the ecological processes driving DOM dynamics under global change. With tools for trait analysis, diversity metrics, network inference, and temperature response modeling, iDOM offers a robust and reproducible framework for DOM studies worldwide.
Second primary cancers (SPCs) are a major cause of death among cancer survivors. This review highlights recent advances in understanding SPC mechanisms, including genomic changes, stromal cell alterations, hormone signaling, immunosuppression, and gene methylation. It also explores emerging tools such as intratumoral microbes, single-cell multi-omics, and metabolomics, offering new directions for future research.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare across multiple fields, and prostate cancer (PCa) is no exception. A recent review conducted by researchers discusses the role of AI in clinical practice against PCa. According to this study, AI models enable early detection of PCa with high accuracy while minimizing errors. AI models used in molecular subtyping and precision medicine also offer personalized treatments—improving the overall quality of life of patients.