Oncolytic Probiotics with Molecular Pili for Solid Tumor Therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Microbiology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Cell therapy and oncolytic viruses show promise for cancer treatment.
• Solid tumors present challenges like immune suppression and toxicity, limiting current therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel probiotic-based therapy for solid tumors.
• To enhance the efficacy and safety of oncolytic bacteria using molecular pili.

Main Methods:

• Selected Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR) for oncolytic activity.
• Designed molecular pili (MP) targeting collagen-rich tumors.
• Coupled LR with MP to create LR@MP for enhanced tumor targeting and reduced systemic toxicity.

Main Results:

• LR@MP demonstrated a two-fold increase in intratumoral accumulation in mouse models.
• Enhanced bacterial clearance from peripheral tissues was observed.
• LR@MP inhibited 60%-80% of tumor growth at a safe dose, showing significant oncolytic activity.

Conclusions:

• The dual-optimization strategy using LR@MP offers a promising approach for in vivo cancer therapy.
• This method enhances tumor-specific delivery and efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity.
• LR@MP warrants further preclinical investigation as a next-generation cancer treatment.