Advances in Salmonella-mediated tumor therapy

Abstract:

Conventional cancer therapies such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery have obvious limitations in treating solid tumors. Bacteria-mediated tumor therapy has been proven effective in clinical studies and considered to be a promising strategy for tumor treatment. Salmonella, as a facultative anaerobic bacterium, can preferentially colonize tumors and activate the anti-tumor immune response of the host by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Genetically engineered strains of Salmonella have good tumor targeting ability and controllability and are highly adaptable to different therapeutic requirements, thus serving as ideal carriers for drug delivery. Nevertheless, using Salmonella for tumor therapy faces two challenges: potential pathogenicity in the host and improvement of tumor-targeting ability. To develop safe and effective Salmonella-mediated therapies, researchers need to have deep insights into the interaction between Salmonella and the host immune system. We summarized the anti-tumor mechanisms of Salmonella, novel bacteria-mediated tumor therapies, and challenges and prospects of Salmonella-mediated tumor therapy.