The unique feature of the new bacterial vaccine is its ability to trigger and coordinate all components of the immune system to activate an anti-tumor immune response, according to the vaccine's developers at Columbia University. Experiments have shown that the new vaccine is more effective than peptide-based therapeutic cancer vaccines.
The bacterial vaccine is personalized for each tumor, as each case is unique and it's important to consider the presence of certain genetic mutations. Scientists reprogrammed the bacteria to train the immune system to attack targeted mutations to combat cancer.
Experiments in mouse models showed that the vaccine recruited a broad range of immune cells and successfully suppressed the growth of primary and metastatic cancers—melanoma and colon cancer—and prevented recurrence. The treatment was found to be highly safe.
In future clinical trials, scientists plan to develop bacterial vaccines tailored to each individual patient. Despite the personalized approach, using bacteria will be simpler and faster than other vaccine platforms, allowing patients to receive treatment as quickly as possible.
