Salmonella could be used to treat cancer after major breakthrough by Glasgow researchers

Salmonella’s Potential in Cancer Treatment Unveiled by Glasgow Researchers
By Storm Newton, for PAGemma Ryder
A breakthrough discovery by Cancer Research UK-funded teams in Glasgow and Birmingham has shed light on the potential use of salmonella in treating cancer, particularly bowel cancer. Researchers at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow and the University of Glasgow have identified how salmonella can inhibit the body’s immune cells from attacking cancer cells, marking a significant step forward in cancer therapy.

Although the idea of using salmonella to combat cancer has been explored in the past, its effectiveness as a therapy has been limited. The recent finding reveals that salmonella depletes a crucial protein necessary for the body’s immune cells to function optimally. This insight paves the way for enhancing the use of salmonella in cancer treatment, aiming to unlock its full potential in fighting the disease.

One promising approach involves combining bacterial therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors, drugs that can enhance the immune system’s ability to target cancer cells. By understanding how salmonella affects T cells—white blood cells crucial for immunity—in cancer therapy, researchers hope to refine the treatment strategy. Through experiments with mice, the team observed that salmonella impedes T cells from combating cancer cells by depleting an essential amino acid, asparagine.

Dr Alastair Copland, a research fellow in immunology at the University of Birmingham, highlighted the importance of bacterial therapies in starving tumours of essential nutrients. The discovery of the protein targeted by salmonella opens up new possibilities for developing more effective cancer treatments. Lead researcher Dr Kendle Maslowski expressed optimism about engineering salmonella to spare the crucial amino acid, potentially empowering T cells to engage tumour cells.

Bowel cancer affects over 44,000 individuals annually in the UK, with Scotland experiencing a disproportionate share of approximately 4,000 new cases each year. The study, funded by Cancer Research UK and published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, offers hope for advancing treatments for colorectal and other cancers in the future.

Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, emphasised the significant potential of bacterial therapies in cancer treatment. While immunotherapies harness the body’s immune system to combat cancer, bacterial therapies like salmonella present a unique opportunity to tackle the disease effectively. The latest breakthrough from the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute underscores the continuing efforts to improve cancer treatment options for patients.

In conclusion, the collaborative efforts of research teams in Glasgow and Birmingham have uncovered a promising avenue for leveraging salmonella in cancer therapy. By understanding how salmonella influences immune responses, researchers aim to enhance the efficacy of bacterial therapies for cancer treatment. This breakthrough holds the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment strategies and offer new hope to patients battling the disease.