Bacterial immunotherapy: is it a weapon in our arsenal in the fight against cancer?

Front Immunol. 2023 Nov 27:14:1277677. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1277677. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Advances in understanding the genetic basis of cancer have driven alternative treatment approaches. Recent findings have demonstrated the potential of bacteria and it's components to serve as robust theranostic agents for cancer eradication. Compared to traditional cancer therapies like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bacteria mediated tumor therapy has exhibited superior cancer suppressing property which is attributed a lot to it's tumor proliferating and accumulating characteristics. Genetically modified bacteria has reduced inherent toxicity and enhanced specificity towards tumor microenvironment. This anti- tumor activity of bacteria is attributed to its toxins and other active components from the cell membrane, cell wall and spores. Furthermore, bacterial genes can be regulated to express and deliver cytokines, antibodies and cancer therapeutics. Although there is less clinical data available, the pre- clinical research clearly indicates the feasibility and potential of bacteria- mediated cancer therapy.

Keywords: bacteria; cancer; immunotherapy; tumor-microenvironment; vaccine.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. DST- FIST(AIMT) (Project no: SR/FST/LS-1/2019/502), DST- PURSE and SERB- Ramanujan (RJF/2022/000040): sponsoring the facilities for data collection towards preparation of the manuscript.