A New Hope for Patients and a Paradigm Shift in Cancer Therapy

Engineered Bacteria Show Promise in Cancer Treatment

Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough in cancer therapy by uncovering the mechanism behind a new treatment using genetically engineered bacteria. This discovery offers hope for the development of next-generation cancer therapies that are both safe and effective.

The research, published in the journal Cell, focused on the use of antitumor bacteria, a concept that dates back to the 1860s. However, clinical application of this therapy has been hampered by safety and efficacy concerns.

Recent advances in synthetic biology have paved the way for the development of novel antitumor bacteria, but their practical application has been hindered by a lack of understanding about how they evade the host's immune system while activating antitumor responses.

In this study, researchers engineered a weakened strain of bacteria called Designer Bacteria 1 (DB1). This bacteria has the remarkable ability to survive and multiply within tumor tissues while being cleared from healthy tissues, achieving a targeted and effective tumor-clearing effect.

The researchers discovered that DB1's antitumor efficacy is closely linked to tissue-resident memory cytotoxic T cells within the tumor. These cells are reinvigorated and expanded following DB1 therapy. Additionally, DB1 can slow down the migration of neutrophils in tumors, which helps the bacteria survive within its target.

The researchers also found that the signaling molecule interleukin-10 plays a crucial role in mediating these effects. The efficacy of the therapy depends on the high expression of interleukin-10 receptors on T cells and neutrophils specifically within tumors.

This research is currently being advanced towards clinical trials, and it is hoped that it will provide a scientific basis for the formulation of personalized treatment plans in the future.

Furthermore, the engineered antitumor bacteria can also serve as delivery carriers for therapeutic drugs, enabling precise release and opening up a new pathway for the treatment of malignant tumors. This breakthrough in bacterial cancer therapy offers significant promise for the future of cancer treatment, providing hope for patients and paving the way for the development of safer and more effective therapies.