Researchers have developed a new cancer treatment approach using engineered bacteria, offering a different way to deliver chemotherapy more precisely.
In the study, scientists modified a probiotic strain of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 so it could produce Romidepsin, an FDA-approved cancer drug. When tested in mice, the engineered bacteria naturally moved toward breast cancer tumors and settled there.
Once inside the tumor, the bacteria released the drug directly at the cancer site, effectively acting like a “living factory” that produces chemotherapy where it is needed most. This creates a dual effect—using the bacteria’s natural tumor-targeting ability while delivering a powerful anticancer compound locally.
Although the results are promising, researchers caution that more work is needed before this approach can be tested in humans. Key challenges include ensuring the bacteria can be safely removed after treatment, understanding potential long-term side effects, and confirming that the same tumor-targeting behavior seen in mice will also occur in human patients.