Scientists engineer bacteria to eat cancer tumors from the inside out
Why it matters: This research offers a glimpse into a future where engineered bacteria could provide a highly targeted and less invasive cancer treatment, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing the harmful side effects of traditional therapies.
- University of Waterloo scientists are engineering Clostridium sporogenes to thrive in oxygen-free tumor cores, effectively eating the tumor from within.
- The engineered bacteria are modified with a gene for oxygen tolerance, activated by quorum sensing, ensuring survival near the tumor's oxygen-exposed edges only after sufficient colonization.
- Dr. Marc Aucoin highlights the bacteria's ability to colonize the tumor's central space, essentially ridding the body of the tumor, showcasing the potential for a novel cancer treatment.
University of Waterloo scientists are engineering bacteria, specifically Clostridium sporogenes, to selectively target and devour cancerous tumors from the inside out, exploiting the oxygen-deprived core of solid tumors. This innovative approach uses quorum sensing to activate oxygen resistance only when the bacteria are deep within the tumor, potentially offering a new, highly targeted cancer therapy.
