A groundbreaking preclinical study from Weill Cornell Medicine has uncovered a remarkable link between gut bacteria and cancer-fighting immunity. Scientists found that intestinal microbes can transform bile acids — chemicals produced by the liver from cholesterol — into potent compounds that suppress cancer by blocking androgen receptors, which play a key role in both hormone signaling and tumor progression.
Published in Cell on April 15, the research identified over 50 new bile acid structures modified by gut bacteria. Some of these newly discovered molecules were found to weaken the androgen receptor’s activity, enhancing the body’s T-cell immune response against tumors in bladder cancer models.
Experts believe these findings could reshape cancer treatment strategies, potentially involving customized microbiome therapies or bile acid-based drugs to amplify existing immunotherapies. However, questions remain about diet’s influence on these compounds and their effects on healthy physiology.
