evidence: The presence of some fungal species in tumors predicts – and may even help drive – worse cancer outcomes, according to a study from Weill Cornell Medicine and Duke University researchers. [...] The idea that viruses and bacteria can trigger or accelerate cancer development is now well established. However, little is known about the cancer-related roles of fungi – which, like bacteria and viruses, colonize the gut, lungs, skin and other barrier tissues, interact with the immune system, and sometimes cause disease. [...] The analysis revealed that the DNA of certain fungal species are relatively abundant in some tumor types. These species include, in gastrointestinal tumors, Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans, which causes thrush and yeast infections; in lung tumors, species of the fungal genus Blastomyces; and in breast tumors, species of the fungus Malassezia.