Unexpected deposits of bacteria have been found inside brain tumors, apparently affecting how the cancers grow and behave, a new study says. File Photo by Tamas Soki/EPA
The brain is thought to be a sterile environment, free from germs.
But unexpected deposits of bacteria have been found inside brain tumors, apparently affecting how the cancers grow and behave, a new study says.
"This work opens a new dimension in our understanding of brain tumor biology," senior researcher Dr. Jennifer Wargo, a professor of surgical oncology and genomic medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said in a news release.
"By mapping how microbial elements influence the brain tumor microenvironment, we may be able to identify new therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for patients facing these devastating diseases," Wargo said.
