Bacterial therapy to combat lung metastasis

Luis Serrano

Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain

Between 20 % and 54 % of malignant tumours metastasise to the lung. Despite advances in immunotherapies in recent years, a significant percentage of patients do not respond to these treatments, largely because metastatic tumour cells develop resistance.

In an attempt to circumvent this resistance, new preclinical approaches are being explored that exploit the immunogenic effects of the LCOR protein in combination with immunotherapy. However, systemic administration of this combination of treatments carries a significant risk of patients experiencing severe autoimmune side effects. Hence the need for therapies that can be delivered locally, directly to the tumour.

This is precisely what the researchers in this project aim to do: they will use genetically modified bacteria to colonise the tumour and deliver LCOR protein and immunotherapy simultaneously to the tumour cells. The goal is to enhance the anti-tumour response and reduce unwanted side effects in the rest of the body.

• Antoni Celià Terrassa, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain

Bacteria-based LCOR therapy in lung metastasis and rational design of costimulatory molecules

€1,000,000.00