Bifidobacterium longum as a Delivery System for Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights -

A new report from researchers at Nanjing University in China has made significant findings in the development of a novel cancer treatment. The study used the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum as a delivery system for the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and endostatin, which when combined with low-dose chemotherapeutic drugs, resulted in a significant inhibition of hypoxic tumor growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bifidobacterium longum was successfully transfected with a plasmid encoding the extracellular domain of TRAIL, and its carbohydrate fermentation and growth curve were determined.
  • The results showed that B. longum-pBV22210-TRAIL resulted in selective location in tumors and exhibited a definite antitumor effect on S180 osteosarcoma.
  • The combination of B. longum-pBV22210-TRAIL with a low dosage of Adriamycin (5 mg kg(-1)) or B. longum-pBV22210-endostatin significantly enhanced the antitumor effect.
  • The study demonstrated a stable vector in B. longum for transporting anticancer genes combined with low-dose chemotherapeutic drugs, suggesting a promising approach in cancer gene therapy.
  • B. longum was found to replicate stably and did not significantly affect the biological characteristics of B. longum.
  • The use of Bifidobacterium longum as a delivery system for cancer treatment may provide a new approach to targeting and killing cancer cells.

Statistics:

  • The study used a low dosage of Adriamycin (5 mg kg(-1)) in combination with B. longum-pBV22210-TRAIL or B. longum-pBV22210-endostatin.
  • The researchers found that the combination of B. longum-pBV22210-TRAIL with a low dosage of Adriamycin (5 mg kg(-1)) resulted in a significant enhancement of the antitumor effect.
  • The study demonstrated a stable vector in B. longum for transporting anticancer genes combined with low-dose chemotherapeutic drugs.
  • The use of Bifidobacterium longum as a delivery system for cancer treatment may provide a new approach to targeting and killing cancer cells, with potential implications for the development of novel cancer therapies.

Sources:

  • B. Hu, et al., Cancer Gene Therapy, 2009; 16(8): 655-63.
  • Cancer Gene Therapy Week editors.