Bifidobacteria-derived exopolysaccharide promotes anti-tumor immunity

While several phylogenetically distinct bacterial taxa can predict responses to or improve cancer immunotherapies, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The use of microbes for microbial therapeutics is currently under intense research, yet safety and regulatory hurdles remain challenging. Thus, non-replicative bacterial-derived molecules or extracts provide promising alternatives. We have identified exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from two bacterial species-Bifidobacterium pseudolongum and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum-that promote anti-tumor immunity. EPS improved Th1 T cell immunity, which was further boosted by the metabolite inosine. Mechanistically, EPS was sensed by dendritic cells in a Tlr2-MyD88-dependent manner, which induced interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Both cytokines were required for T cell-dependent killing of tumor cells in murine colon cancer models. EPS stimulated IL-12 production through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in human dendritic cells and promoted cell death in patient-derived colon cancer organoids through immune cells. Collectively, our study identifies microbe-derived EPS as an adjuvant immunotherapy in cancer.