Tumor microbes blunt care

Two studies suggest that bacteria within tumors may help cancer resist treatment. In head and neck tumors, higher bacterial levels were associated with more neutrophils and fewer T cells, and weakened mice’s response to a treatment targeting the PD-L1 protein. In pancreatic cancer, a study analyzing 114 samples found that *Enterobacter hormaechei* produces an enzyme that inactivates gemcitabine. When the gene responsible for the enzyme was disabled, the cells regained their sensitivity to the drug, and targeting the bacteria improved treatment effectiveness in animal models. These findings are not enough to justify routine use of antibiotics: their benefits need to be tested in clinical trials, and antibiotics may harm beneficial gut microbes.

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