Scientists Create Chemotherapy Treatment with Reduced Toxicity and Improved Efficacy

Researchers at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have developed a groundbreaking cancer treatment method that offers a more precise, potent, and less harmful alternative to traditional chemotherapy. Led by Associate Professor Matthew Chang, the team at NUS Medicine has engineered bacteria to deliver chemotherapy in a targeted manner, significantly enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing side effects.

The new treatment approach utilizes a prodrug delivery method that leverages a commensal Lactobacillus strain that binds specifically to cancer cells. These engineered bacteria carry a prodrug that converts to the chemotherapy drug SN-38 at the tumor site. In preclinical models of nasopharyngeal cancer, the bacteria localized specifically in the tumor and released the chemotherapy drug directly at the cancer site, resulting in a 67% reduction in tumor growth and a 54% increase in the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug.

Lead Researcher Dr. Shen Haosheng highlighted the potential for broader applications of this research across various types of cancer therapy, as the Lactobacillus strain identified by the researchers binds specifically to cancer cells. The team aims to develop a versatile delivery system using microbial strains to target chemotherapy drugs to various mucosal cancers, such as colorectal, bladder, stomach, oral, lung, and nasal cancer.

This innovative research represents a significant step towards developing a more targeted and less toxic approach to fighting cancer. The findings have been published in Nature Communications, showcasing the potential for a new clinical treatment for cancer patients. The team hopes that this research will pave the way for therapies that are both mild and effective in the fight against cancer.