Human Commensal Bacteria: Next-generation Pro- and Post-biotics for Anticancer Therapy

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Oncology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading cause of death with largely unknown causes.
• Current cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation, carry significant risks and side effects.
• Probiotic bacteria and their metabolites exhibit antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current findings on the anti-cancer properties of human commensal bacteria and their secreted products.
• To explore the therapeutic potential of these probiotics and metabolites as alternatives to conventional cancer treatments.
• To propose a workflow for identifying and characterizing novel bacterial strains for cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on probiotic bacteria and their metabolites in cancer treatment.
• Focus on small metabolites, proteins, and enzymes secreted by human commensal bacteria.
• Discussion of protein engineering strategies to improve existing anti-cancer enzymes like L-asparaginase.
• Proposal of a workflow for isolating, identifying, screening, and characterizing bacterial strains.

Main Results:

• Commensal bacteria and their metabolites demonstrate selective specificity and lack of treatment-associated comorbidities.
• These agents possess immunomodulatory and anti-cancer effects with minimal side effects.
• L-asparaginase, an anti-leukemia enzyme, can potentially be engineered to reduce toxicity.
• Exploration beyond lactic acid bacteria is crucial for discovering novel cancer therapeutics.

Conclusions:

• Human commensal bacteria and their metabolites represent a promising avenue for developing novel cancer therapeutics.
• These natural agents offer potential advantages over conventional treatments, including reduced toxicity and enhanced immunomodulation.
• Further research into diverse bacterial species is essential for unlocking their full therapeutic potential in oncology.