Salmonella Bacteria Shows Promise in Bowel Cancer Treatment

Researchers discover how engineered salmonella could enhance immune response against tumors.

Scientists have identified that salmonella depletes asparagine, an amino acid crucial for T cell function, limiting its effectiveness in cancer therapy.
The study suggests genetically modifying salmonella to avoid depleting asparagine, potentially allowing T cells to effectively target cancer cells.
Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the UK, highlighting the need for innovative treatments like bacterial therapies.
The research was conducted by teams in Glasgow and Birmingham and funded by Cancer Research UK, offering hope for more effective cancer treatments.
Published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, the study marks a significant step in combining bacterial therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors.