Recent studies employing advanced sequencing technologies, such as those by Galeano Niño et al., demonstrate that the intratumoral microbiota is organized into distinct microniches and functionally impacts tumor biology by activating oncogenic pathways (e.g. JUN/FOS) and immune-suppressive mechanisms (e.g. JAK–STAT), thereby promoting cancer progression (Galeano Niño et al., 2022). The gene discussed is SOAT1; the disease is cancer.