Why Is This Bacterium Hiding in Human Tumors?

Is it possible that bacteria, widely known to exchange genetic material with one another, are here also exchanging it with human cells? These bacteria might thereby cause cancer or tune existing cancer cells to their own purposes, for instance producing food for them. If so, the more cancer the better from the bacteria's perspective. Besides genetic engineering, the bacteria may well be practicing chemical engineering and producing cancer growth factors.

Go Canada!

Fascinating! Could we possibly be reading about a future Nobel prize?

nice photo ! as a photographer I'm aware that an effective photo can keep an idea in people's minds long after words have been forgotten (if they were ever read - less likely in this age of swipe-left-or-right without thinking) so - more like this - will probably get more people interested - and you know - the money follows ...

There is some research - http://go.nature.com/2hV3GT6 - that supports that immune tolerance processes and innate immunity are linked to human bacterial symbiosis/microbiomes in our bodies (nature, 2016). As an immunologist & molecular biologist (currently working in development aid, and public health), I know this is a relatively new area of research, and that we do not quite fully understand human immunology. In fact, research on human bacterial symbiosis is revealing microbiomes are a real and quite astonishingly diverse and seemingly increasingly essential ingredient for healthy immune modulation. This research it raises many a question, not least: Are antimicrobials now a potential treatment in colorectal cancer? For which other tumors (not just in the stomach, lower gut, liver or pancreas), do bacteria play a role? Could viruses have a similar pathogenic influence? And, could it be an altered microbiome that is actually linked to tumor growth / particular growth patterns, rather than just the presence of this one bacterium? In other words, is it possible that bacterial imbalance is one of a few primary triggers for cell outgrowth and the presence of Fusobacterium Nucleatum, rather than primary infection with the bacterium being the deciding factor in colon cancer?

It sounds like Fusobacterium nucleatum Can attach to the cell wall of a cancer cell . Naturally, If pieces of the tumor break off when it metastasizes, Those pieces would carry along bacteria attached to the cell wall. The cancer cell wall must carry a modification which enables this attachment and is not present in normal cells. Maybe research should go in the direction of using this phenomena to design drugs which can find and destroy the cancer cells based on the attachment And presence of the bacteria..

Such research is certainly welcome. A cautionary note, however: metronidazole has long been prescribed for rosacea and can carry the side effect of peripheral neuropathy. Whether this is 'rare' or not should be examined carefully by researchers without conflicts with pharma.

There are other examples, for instance helicobacter in gastric neoplasms, especially lymphoma. Chronic infections, e.g. chronic urinary bladder catheterized patients can get squamous bladder cancers. I haven't heard that the microbes travel with the cancer, but how hard have we looked? The interactions between human cells and are microbiome is fascinating, and we have only scratched the surface

Fascinating perhaps, symbiotic relationship or Structural Coupling, Maturana calls similar relationship. This seems a fertile line of research. Thanks for the article.

Very interesting and informative article! I have enjoyed Kolata's writing for many years.

This is a fascinating observation. Considering the big question of the microbiome's use in biology, one could consider the bacteria (Fusobacterium nucleatum in this case) as a kind of knapsack with genetic tools the tumor needs to go camping (metastasize) . Tumors try to become immortal, causing an anarchy within the body. If you go camping in the big wide world you need some extra equipment to survive AND you can move around and be harder to find (avoid those cops called the immune system)

The bacterium lives in people's mouths. It would be fascinating to know whether there is a link between oral hygiene and dental health, and these types of cancers. It has already been demonstrated that there is a connection between dental health and cardiovascular conditions, so not a far-fetched idea. A heartfelt thank you to cancer researchers for their dedication to improving and saving lives.