Tumor-resident Lactobacillus iners confer chemoradiation resistance through lactate-induced metabolic rewiring

Tumor microbiota can produce active metabolites that affect cancer and immune cell signaling, metabolism, and proliferation. Here, we explore tumor and gut microbiome features that affect chemoradiation response in patients with cervical cancer using a combined approach of deep microbiome sequencing, targeted bacterial culture, and in vitro assays. We identify that an obligate L-lactate-producing lactic acid bacterium found in tumors, Lactobacillus iners, is associated with decreased survival in patients, induces chemotherapy and radiation resistance in cervical cancer cells, and leads to metabolic rewiring, or alterations in multiple metabolic pathways, in tumors. Genomically similar L-lactate-producing…

• P
  Pfizer
• A
  AstraZeneca
• CP
  Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

  Awards: RP180734, CPRIT RP180734
• RS
  Radiological Society of North America
• AS
  American Society of Clinical Oncology
• SF
  Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer
• UO
  University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: P30CA16672, U54CA096300, RP180734
• G
  Genentech
• UO
  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

  Award: P30CA16672
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Award: U54CA096300