Could ‘friendly’ bacteria help fight pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer proves particularly challenging to treat, partly due to its tumor's ability to suppress the immune system. In a study published in Science Advances, US researchers have explored an innovative approach: engineering bacteria found in the gut to act as microscopic drug factories. These bacteria are modified to deliver interleukin-2 (IL-2), an immune-stimulating molecule, directly into pancreatic tumors.

By modifying Bifidobacterium longum, a common probiotic bacterium, the scientists gave it the ability to thrive in low-oxygen environments typically found within tumors, while being more easily cleared from healthy tissues. Once inside the tumor, these engineered bacteria produce IL-2, which helps activate T cells, a crucial component of the immune system's attack on cancer cells. A modified version of IL-2, called SumIL-2, was used to minimize potential side effects and enhance the immune response against cancer.

The research demonstrated that when combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy, this bacterial treatment slowed tumor growth and improved the immune system's ability to combat cancer cells. The findings suggest that this bacterial approach could make pancreatic tumors more susceptible to treatments that otherwise struggle to penetrate these aggressive cancers.

However, the study's results are still preliminary, as the treatment has not yet been tested in humans. Further research is needed to examine the long-term safety of the bacteria, their potential to affect other parts of the body, and the lasting impact of the immune response. The researchers also aim to explore the possibility of administering the bacteria orally and to investigate whether this method could complement other emerging pancreatic cancer therapies.