Cancer develops and responds to treatment within a physiological context shaped by metabolism, diet, and the microbiome. Our lab investigates how diet- and microbiome-derived metabolites influence tumor development and modulate responses to therapy, with a particular focus on liver cancer. We are especially interested in mechanisms by which microbial metabolism of dietary compounds alters host pathways that affect tumor biology, drug exposure, and treatment efficacy. Our goal is to move beyond associations and identify specific metabolites and pathways that causally connect nutrition and microbial activity to cancer outcomes. This research area integrates metabolite discovery with mechanistic studies of host physiology to reveal how chemical signals from the gut can shape cancer progression and therapeutic response. Ultimately, we hope this work will support new strategies to improve cancer prevention and treatment through diet-, microbiome-, and metabolome-informed approaches.