A Nature Communications paper identified gut microbial β‑glucuronidases as active drivers of metabolic changes linked to colorectal cancer, mapping how microbial enzymes reshape carcinogenic metabolite profiles in the colon. The study combined metagenomics, enzymology and tumor models to connect specific microbial functions to tumorigenesis. Authors demonstrated that inhibition or removal of these enzymes altered the metabolite milieu and reduced tumor burden in preclinical models. The work provides mechanistic evidence linking microbiome enzymatic activity, host metabolism and cancer risk. The findings point to microbial enzymes as potential prevention or adjunct therapeutic targets; however, clinical translation will require human validation of biomarkers, safety assessment of enzyme inhibitors and approaches to modulate complex microbiota functions.