Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. More than 90% of all cancers are not caused by germline mutations, but rather by acquired somatic mutations and environmental factors. Intriguingly, the microbiota has recently emerged as one such environmental factor, shedding light on previously unexpected mechanistic connections between microbial colonization and neoplastic transformation.
We are studying the cross-talk between cancer cells, immune cells, microbial colonization, and other environmental factors. We hope that discovering new connections between these players involved in tumorigenesis might lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches.