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Anticancer therapy

Bacterial treatment for cancer

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 13, page 726 (2014)Cite this article

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C. novyi can induce tumour cell lysis, is very sensitive to oxygen levels and thrives in hypoxic environments, such as those often found in advanced solid tumours, but does not grow in normoxic environments, such as those typically found in normal tissue. Roberts et al. hypothesized that these characteristics would make it an ideal therapy for tumours that cannot be removed surgically, such as gliomas.

The authors had previously treated tumours in mice and rabbits intravenously with an attenuated C. novyi strain (C. novyi-NT) and observed promising response rates but could not recapitulate these responses in larger canine models. As this might be due to inadequate delivery to the tumour, the authors tested intratumoural injections of C. novyi-NT, initially in a rat model of highly aggressive gliomas. Treatment of these rat brain tumours with intratumoural injections caused a significant decrease in tumour burden within 48 hours of the injection and spared surrounding normal cells that were only micrometres away. Although brain oedemas were commonly seen in these animals, this adverse effect was easily managed.

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References

  1. Roberts, N. J. et al. Intratumoral injection of Clostridium novyi-NT spores induces antitumor responses. Sci. Transl Med. 6, 249ra111 (2014)

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  1. Assistant Editor Nature Reviews Cancer,

    Isabel Lokody

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  1. Isabel Lokody
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Lokody, I. Bacterial treatment for cancer. Nat Rev Drug Discov 13, 726 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4447

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