Editorial on “Cancer and the microbiota” published in Science

In recent years, improved sequencing technologies have resulted in a surge of information that has clarified the interactions between microorganisms and their environment. Most notably, examination of human-associated microbes has revealed their important role in the prevention and development of specific diseases. In particular, we now have a deeper understanding of how the microbiota can influence cancer development and progression as well as their potential application in cancer therapeutics. Dr. Wendy Garrett highlights these recent advances in her review “Cancer and the microbiota” which was published in April 2015 in Science. This is the most recent review of a relatively large number that cover this topic, but Dr. Garrett’s review stands out in its coverage of the therapeutic potential of microorganisms for cancer prevention. Here we provide an overview of Dr. Garrett’s manuscript in the context of the larger body of work on this topic.