Unintended Impacts of Anti-Cancer Drugs: Researchers Dispute High-Profile Discoveries

Several research teams have disputed the findings of three high-profile studies that claimed tumors are filled with microbes, stating that they were unable to replicate the results and suggesting that the microbes were either mirages or the result of contamination. The authors of the original studies defended their data and pointed to more recent studies that support their conclusions. This controversy highlights the challenges of deciphering the true nature of tumor microbes and the growing pains of a promising field. While the debate continues, experts agree that microbes play a role in cancer, but the field is still searching for accurate tools and standards.