From Microbes to Medicine: Bacteriotherapy's Emerging Role in CancerTreatment Strategies

Cancer, a prominent cause of death, continues to pose difficulties for traditional treatment methods due to the development of resistance in cancer cells. Despite the advances made in technology, the gradual and harmful growth of tumors sometimes results in death, which emphasizes the restrictions of current treatment methods. Bacteriotherapy, a treatment approach that uses bacteria, has become more important in cancer therapies as a reaction to these obstacles. This review examines the diverse use of bacteriotherapy in treating cancer, taking advantage of its inherent benefits compared to other approaches. Although some disease-causing bacteria have been linked to the development of tumors, a significant finding indicates that certain bacterial toxins and peptides possess exceptional abilities to combat cancer. Certain bacterial species, highly skilled at establishing themselves in solid tumors, have shown the capability to effectively regulate the abnormal growth of cancer cells, suppressing tumor advancement and leading to its eventual elimination from the body. Genetically edited bacteria, such as Streptococcus, E. coli, and Streptococcus pyogenes, have attracted attention due to their therapeutic effects in animal models and ongoing human trials. These genetically engineered bacterial strains have been designed to better colonize tumors. They are weakened and altered to be live and can reproduce within tumors. Significantly, genetically engineered bacterial species that are not harmful to humans are remarkable due to their strong attraction and specificity towards cancer cells, which greatly contributes to their impressive effectiveness in treating cancer.