Researchers at MD Anderson reported that Fusobacterium nucleatum and related tumor‑infiltrating bacteria can induce a reversible quiescent state in epithelial cancer cells, reducing transcriptional activity, impairing immune recognition and promoting chemo-resistance in oral and colorectal tumors. Spatial analyses in patient tissues and preclinical models showed bacterial localization between tumor cells correlates with reduced immune‑gene expression and poorer treatment response. Authors propose that microbe‑aware therapeutic strategies — ranging from targeted antibiotics, microbiome modulation, to microbe‑informed biomarker selection — could restore sensitivity and improve outcomes in affected patients.