International scientists discovered that bacteria living in tumors produce a molecule called 2-methylisocitrate (2-MiCit) that can fight cancer and enhance chemotherapy effectiveness.
Through screening over 1,100 conditions using C. elegans worms, scientists found that E. coli bacteria produce 2-MiCit, which improves the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The molecule works by inhibiting a key enzyme in cancer cell mitochondria, causing DNA damage and activating cancer-suppressing pathways. Combined with 5-FU, it’s significantly more effective at killing cancer cells than either treatment alone.
The team confirmed 2-MiCit’s anti-cancer properties using computer modeling of tumor-associated microbiomes, human cancer cells, and a fly model of colorectal cancer, which showed extended survival. Researchers also created a synthetic, more potent version of 2-MiCit, demonstrating the possibility of developing new drugs based on this natural bacterial product.
This research reveals how bacteria within tumors communicate chemically with cancer cells and shows promise for personalized medicine approaches.