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Cancer

Breakthrough in Cancer Gene Therapy: Bacteriophage Vaccine Shows Promising Results

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the University of Primorska have developed a novel bacteriophage-based vaccine strategy that has shown significant efficacy in treating aggressive melanoma in mice. The study, published in Scientific Reports, evaluated the antitumor efficacy of the bacteriophage vaccine alone and in combination with gene electrotransfer (GET) of interleukin-12 (IL-12) plasmids. The findings demonstrated that the engineered bacteriophage therapy significantly delayed tumor growth, and when combined with GET IL-12, increased tumor growth delay and led to complete responses in 30% of cases.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study introduces a novel bacteriophage-based vaccine strategy that expresses tumor peptides MAGE-A1, gp100, or MART-1/MELAN-A on the surface of the capsid.
  • The therapeutic potential of bacteriophage vaccination alone or in combination with GET IL-12 was tested in vivo in a mouse malignant melanoma model.
  • Engineered bacteriophage therapy significantly delayed tumor growth, and when combined with GET IL-12, increased tumor growth delay and led to complete responses in 30% of cases.
  • Histological and immunohistochemical analyses showed that both bacteriophage monotherapy and combination with GET IL-12 activated the immune system and increased the proportion of necrosis and the infiltration of macrophages, CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes in tumors.
  • A cocktail of three engineered M13 bacteriophages displaying different melanoma-associated antigens with intratumoral IL-12 gene electrotransfer demonstrated a synergistic therapeutic effect in a highly aggressive melanoma model.
  • The study concluded that nanotechnological approaches, such as the use of genetically engineered bacteriophages, offer promising new avenues for the development of anti-tumor vaccines.

Statistics:

  • 30% cases showed complete responses when treated with the engineered bacteriophage therapy in combination with GET IL-12.
  • Tumor growth was significantly delayed in mice treated with engineered bacteriophage therapy alone.
  • The proportion of necrosis and the infiltration of macrophages, CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes in tumors increased with both bacteriophage monotherapy and combination with GET IL-12.

Sources:

  • A virus based vaccine combined with IL12 gene therapy eradicates aggressive melanoma. Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1):18786.
  • University of Primorska Reports Findings in Cancer Gene Therapy (A virus based vaccine combined with IL12 gene therapy eradicates aggressive melanoma). Journal of Engineering. June 9, 2025; p 4967.
  • NewsRx. University of Primorska Reports Findings in Cancer Gene Therapy (A virus based vaccine combined with IL12 gene therapy eradicates aggressive melanoma). Journal of Engineering. June 9, 2025; p 4967.

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