Restoring Youthful Gut Microbes Prevents Liver Cancer in Mice

Overview

• UTMB scientists reported ahead of Digestive Disease Week 2026 that none of eight treated older mice developed liver tumors, while two of eight untreated controls did.
• The team used autologous fecal microbiota transplantation, giving each mouse stool saved from its younger self, and gave controls a sterilized slurry without live microbes.
• Treated mice showed lower liver inflammation and injury, fewer DNA damage signs, longer telomeres, and stronger mitochondrial function.
• Liver tissue from treated mice had reduced MDM2 protein, a cancer-linked regulator that was high in untreated older mice and low in young mice.
• The investigators stressed the results are limited to animals and said they plan early human testing only after more validation and safety work.