Key Takeaways

Bacteria has been found inside brain tumors

This is surprising because the brain is thought to be a sterile, germ-free environment

Brain cancer bacteria overlaps with bacteria from the mouth and gut

TUESDAY, Nov. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — 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 mi

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