A new cancer therapy inspired by bacteria living inside tumors is making waves in cancer research. Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have taken a unique approach by focusing on how tumor cells produce energy, rather than attacking the cells directly.
This innovative treatment shows great promise, especially in prostate cancer models where it was combined with radiation therapy. The key player here is a lab-made peptide called aurB, which disrupts the mitochondria—cells’ energy factories.
When mitochondrial function falters, cancer cells can’t thrive or divide as easily. Tohru Yamada, the study’s senior author, explains, “Given that cancer cells often have altered mitochondria to support aggressive growth, targeting energy production is a smart strategy.”
Interestingly, scientists have learned that tumors harbor bacteria, which researchers are now investigating for their potential in cancer treatment. Previous studies from Yamada’s lab found that a bacterial protein could suppress tumor growth. However, those treatments relied on a gene (p53) that doesn’t work the same way in all types of cancer.
Taking a step forward, Yamada and his team sought bacterial proteins that could work independently of p53. They discovered a protein responsible for regulating mitochondrial function and designed aurB from it. In laboratory settings, aurB significantly reduced tumor growth in models lacking active p53.
The data shows a clear improvement when aurB was used with radiation treatment. “The combination resulted in much smaller tumors,” Yamada noted, highlighting the potential of this approach.
Moving to the next phase, the research team has patented aurB and is considering human clinical trials. Yamada remains optimistic, believing that many other bacterial proteins hold untapped potential for developing cancer therapies.
As cancer research evolves, this method of using bacteria to influence tumor energy may pave the way for innovative treatments in the future. This new direction is a beacon of hope for many battling this relentless disease.
For more in-depth information, you can read the original study published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
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Bacteria,Cancer,Cell Biology,Mitochondria,Oncology,University of Illinois at Chicago
