Non-pathogenic E. coli displaying decoy-resistant IL18 mutein boosts anti-tumor and CAR NK cell responses

The tumor microenvironment can inhibit the efficacy of cancer therapies through mechanisms such as poor trafficking and exhaustion of immune cells. Here, to address this challenge, we exploited the safety, tumor tropism and ease of genetic manipulation of non-pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) to deliver key immune-activating cytokines to tumors via surface display on the outer membrane of E. coli K-12 DH5α. Non-pathogenic E. coli expressing murine decoy-resistant IL18 mutein (DR18) induced robust CD8⁺ T and natural killer (NK) cell-dependent immune responses and suppressed tumor progression in immune-competent colorectal carcinoma and melanoma mouse models. E. coli K-12 DH5α engineered to display human DR18 potently activated mesothelin-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) NK cells and enhance their trafficking into tumors, which extended survival in an NK cell treatment-resistant mesothelioma xenograft model by enhancing TNF signaling and upregulating NK activation markers. Our live bacteria-based immunotherapeutic system safely and effectively induces potent anti-tumor responses in treatment-resistant solid tumors, motivating further evaluation of this approach in the clinic.