Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center revealed a microbe‑driven mechanism by which Fusobacterium nucleatum induces reversible quiescence in tumor epithelial cells, reducing immune detection and blunting chemotherapy efficacy in oral and colorectal cancers. Spatial analyses of patient tumors and preclinical models showed Fusobacterium nests localize between cancer cells, disrupt epithelial signaling and correlate with lower expression of immune‑detection genes and poorer treatment response. Authors propose targeting intratumoral microbes or modulating their spatial niches as a novel adjunct to chemo‑immunotherapy. The finding opens a translational path for microbe‑aware cancer treatments and biomarker development.