# The tumor–microbe connection

## TL;DR

Tumor-associated bacteria influence cancer progression and treatment, but their exact roles and mechanisms are still unclear.

## Contribution

This paper summarizes key findings and highlights outstanding questions about tumor-associated bacteria and their interactions in the tumor microenvironment.

## Key findings

- Tumor-associated bacteria challenge the idea of tumors as sterile environments.
- TAB influence immunity, metastasis, and treatment response in cancer.
- Understanding TAB-TME interactions could lead to new cancer therapies.

## Abstract

The discovery of tumor‐associated bacteria (TAB) challenges the traditional view of tumors as sterile environments. These microbes are engaged in a complex dialog with the other components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), influencing immunity, metastasis, and treatment response. Yet the precise mechanisms by which TAB influence tumor biology remains incompletely understood. Deciphering the complex host–microbe interactions could unlock novel therapeutic strategies to reshape the TME and improve treatment outcomes. Here we summarize the key findings in the field, highlighting the most outstanding questions regarding bacterial sources, the roles of TAB in cancer, and their interactions with the other cellular components of the TME.

Tumor‐associated bacteria (TAB) dynamically influence cancer biology by modulating tumor progression, metastatic spread, and therapeutic efficacy. Their presence redefines the tumor microenvironment (TME) as a microbial–host interface, yet mechanistic insights remain limited. Understanding TAB colonization routes, functional impacts, and crosstalk with other cellular components of the TME may pioneer novel bacteria‐targeted cancer therapies.