Genetically Engineered Bacterial Protein Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Oncology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Cancer treatment presents significant clinical challenges globally.
• Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a novel combination therapy for breast cancer.
• To evaluate the efficacy of bacteriotherapy with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Main Methods:

• Engineered Escherichia coli (E. coli) to express acoustic reporter gene (ARG) producing gas vesicles (GVs).
• Utilized ultrasound for visualizing GVs in E. coli.
• Administered E. coli intravenously for targeted breast cancer therapy combined with HIFU.

Main Results:

• Ultrasound successfully visualized ARG-expressing E. coli with GVs in vitro and in vivo.
• E. coli specifically targeted tumor sites, colonized the tumor microenvironment, and inhibited tumor growth.
• The combination therapy achieved an 87% tumor inhibition rate, demonstrating synergistic effects with HIFU.

Conclusions:

• The combination of bacteriotherapy and HIFU is a promising strategy for effective breast cancer treatment.
• This approach offers enhanced efficacy compared to monotherapies.