Columbia scientists develop new bacterial cancer vaccine

The vaccine showed the ability to control or eliminate the growth of both primary and metastatic tumors, extending survival in mouse models

Researchers from Columbia University have engineered probiotic bacteria that can teach the immune system to attack cancer cells, potentially paving the way for a new class of personalised cancer vaccines.

These microbial vaccines could be designed to target both primary tumors and metastases (those that spread), with the added benefit of possibly preventing future recurrences of cancer.

In preclinical studies using mice with advanced colorectal cancer and melanoma (skin cancer), the bacterial vaccine was able to boost the immune system enough to suppress tumor growth, and in many cases, completely eliminate the cancer, without harming healthy tissue.

The findings, published in Nature, indicate that this bacterial approach may be more effective than peptide-based cancer vaccines, which have been the focus of numerous clinical trials but have had limited success.

The vaccine showed the ability to control or eliminate the growth of both primary and metastatic tumors, extending survival in mouse models, according to Jongwon Im, a PhD student who led the bacterial engineering efforts.

The vaccine showed the ability to control or eliminate the growth of both primary and metastatic tumors, extending survival in mouse models, according to Jongwon Im, a PhD student who led the bacterial engineering efforts.

"Every cancer has distinct genetic mutations," explained Dr Nicholas Arpaia, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Columbia's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

"By programming the bacteria to target these cancer-specific mutations, we can create more effective therapies that prompt a patient’s immune system to detect and destroy their cancer cells," added Dr Arpaia.