Evidence mapPaperPMID 42515014Full record

ReviewPathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Spatial Heterogeneity of Intratumoral Microbiota and Its Roles in Tumor-Microbiota Interactions and Therapeutic Implications.

Li Li, Xiaoqian Shi, Mingyang Liu, Tongzhen Xu, Yinan Chen, Ranjiaxi Wang, Qiyue Zhang, Dan Li

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Li LiState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Xiaoqian ShiState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Mingyang LiuState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Tongzhen XuState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Yinan ChenState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Ranjiaxi WangState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Qiyue ZhangState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Dan LiState Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5586-4055

Funding

National Key R&D Program of China 2023YFC3503200、2023YFC3503205Shenzhen Medical Research Fund No.C2301001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The intratumoral microbiota has emerged as a critical component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), with accumulating evidence indicating that its biological functions are influenced not only by microbial composition but also by their spatial organization within tumor tissues. This review summarizes the historical development and potential origins of intratumoral microbiota, and elaborates on the concept and biological significance of spatial heterogeneity. Based on recurrent spatial distribution patterns reported across different tumor types, we propose a conceptual framework comprising several putative spatial niches, including hypoxic/necrotic, immune-enriched, stromal-associated, invasive/metastatic, and intracellular niches. We further discuss the potential mechanisms contributing to the establishment and maintenance of spatial heterogeneity. The clinical significance of spatial microbial signatures is critically evaluated, alongside a comprehensive overview of spatial analytical methodologies, ranging from in situ hybridization and immunology-based approaches to emerging spatial omics and multi-omics integration strategies. Finally, we address key challenges and limitations, including contamination control, causal inference, barriers to clinical translation, and the underexplored spatial dimensions of the intratumoral mycobiome and virome. By synthesizing current knowledge and identifying critical gaps, this review aims to provide a conceptual and methodological framework for advancing spatially resolved investigations of intratumoral microbiota and facilitating their potential translational applications in precision oncology.

Indexed as

MicrobiotaNeoplasmsTumor MicroenvironmentAnimalsHumansintratumoral microbiotaspatial heterogeneitytumor–microbe interactions

Identifiers

PMID42515014
PMCPMC13414628

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.