1354-Stress-Induced Intratumor Phage-Fibroblast-B Circuit

This research identifies a biological circuit triggered by chronic stress that accelerates cancer progression by disabling the immune system. According to the study, stress hormones disrupt the intestinal barrier, allowing a specific gut bacterium, Enterococcus gallinarum, to migrate into tumors. Once inside the tumor, the bacterium releases phage DNA that activates nearby fibroblasts to produce local glucocorticoids. These localized stress hormones directly suppress germinal center B cells, preventing the production of vital anti-tumor antibodies. The authors demonstrate that blocking this pathway—by targeting the bacteria or its DNA sensors—can restore anti-tumor immunity and slow tumor growth. Extending these findings to humans, the study also identifies similar phage-producing bacteria within human colorectal and brain malignancies.References:Bashir H, Sanidad K Z, Ravisankar P, et al. Chronic stress unleashes an intratumor phage-fibroblast-B cell circuit to promote tumor growth[J]. Cancer Cell, 2026.前往小宇宙评论区与主播互动