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Living bacteria could become the next frontier in cancer treatment. Researchers have discovered an amphibian gut bacterium that wiped out solid tumors in mice with a single dose, pointing to a potential therapy that targets tumors directly rather than simply changing the gut microbiome.
While previous research on gut microbes and cancer has focused on changing the microbiome through dietary changes or probiotics, this study used a completely different strategy. Researchers isolated specific bacterial strains from amphibian intestines, grew them in the lab, and introduced them into the bloodstream so they could directly seek out and target tumors.
Of the 45 bacterial strains isolated from Japanese tree frogs, Japanese grass lizards, and Japanese fire-bellied newts, nine demonstrated tumor-fighting properties. Ewingella americana proved to be the most effective.
When the researchers tested E. americana in mice with colorectal cancer, a single intravenous dose produced striking results. Tumors disappeared in every treated mouse, resulting in a 100% complete response rate, an outcome rarely seen with current cancer treatments.
The researchers found that E. americana appears to suppress tumors through a dual approach. The bacteria directly target cancer cells while simultaneously boosting the body’s immune response. Remarkably, the bacteria concentrated almost entirely in tumors and were largely absent from healthy tissues.
Compared with standard treatments such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and liposomal doxorubicin, the bacterial therapy showed greater effectiveness in the study. The researchers caution that more work is needed before it can be considered for human use, but they say the results demonstrate the potential of bacteria-based cancer treatments.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Discovery and characterization of antitumor gut microbiota from amphibians and reptiles: Ewingella americana as a novel therapeutic agent with dual cytotoxic and immunomodulatory properties
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