Digestive cancers show distinct microbiomes, large study finds

A large-scale analysis of Genomics England’s 100,000 Genomes Project used stringent methods to separate genuine microbial signals from lab contamination. The study found that most cancers (including brain, breast and kidney cancers) do not have a microbiome distinguishable from background, suggesting earlier reports may reflect contamination. In contrast, mouth, esophagus, stomach and colorectal cancers showed clear, consistent microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and archaea, with microbe communities varying by tumor location and subtype. The team released their data and a list of confidently present microbes to help other researchers apply the rigorous approach, with implications for understanding how microbiomes influence tumor development, treatment response, and potentially improving GI cancer diagnosis and early detection.