Effect of the intratumoral microbiota on spatial and cellular heterogeneity in cancer

Abstract The tumour-associated microbiota is an intrinsic component of the tumour microenvironment across human cancer types 1,2 . Intratumoral host–microbiota studies have so far largely relied on bulk tissue analysis 1–3 , which obscures the spatial distribution and localized effect of the microbiota within tumours. Here, by applying in situ spatial-profiling technologies 4 and single-cell RNA sequencing 5 to oral squamous cell carcinoma and colorectal cancer, we reveal spatial, cellular and molecular host–microbe interactions. We adapted 10x Visium spatial transcriptomics to determine the identity and in situ location of intratumoral microbial communities within patient tissues. Using GeoMx digital spatial…

• CR
  Cancer Research Institute

  Award: CRI4208
• FH
  Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

  Award: P30 CA015704
• UO
  University of Washington

  Award: P30 CA015704
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: ORIP grant S10OD028685, CA015704, S10OD028685, P30 CA015704, R01 DE027850, T32 CA080416
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Awards: P30 CA015704, T32 CA080416, CA015704, CA080416, R00 CA229984-03
• NI
  National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

  Award: R01 DE027850
• OO
  Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, National Institutes of Health

  Award: S10OD028685