Using bacteria as a new strategy in cancer treatment

Cancer is one of the major global health challenges and, as a multifactorial disease, requires diverse therapeutic approaches. In recent years, the use of bacteria in cancer treatment has emerged as an innovative strategy. Due to their unique properties such as the ability to accumulate in the tumor microenvironment, stimulate the immune system, and produce anticancer agents-bacteria have been explored as effective tools for cancer therapy. This review article examines the history of bacterial applications in cancer treatment, their antitumor mechanisms including bacteriotherapy, gene therapy, drug delivery roles, and immunotherapy systems. Additionally, the use of bacterial spores, bacterial toxins, and ghost bacteria as novel nanocarriers is discussed. The final sections address the challenges associated with this approach, including immune control, dose optimization, treatment costs, and tumor resistance. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive perspective on the potential of bacteria in cancer treatment and future research directions in this field.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cancer ، Bacteriotherapy ، Ghost Bacteria ، Bacterial Toxins