Gut microbial diversity and compositional shifts are associated with differential tumor growth rates in mice

Our study demonstrates that baseline microbial signatures not only stratify tumor growth phenotypes but also influence tumor progression. The lactate-to-butyrate microbial succession observed in the low group, coupled with direct suppression of tumor growth by L. murinus, highlights a protective microbial configuration that may enhance immune regulation. Conversely, enrichment of Prevotellaceae and Muribaculum in the fast group suggests a pro-inflammatory community permissive to tumor progression. These findings underscore the dual roles of gut microbes in shaping tumor outcomes and provide a rationale for microbiota-targeted interventions in cancer.