A major scientific breakthrough in cancer treatment is raising new hopes for a safer and more effective alternative to chemotherapy. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in collaboration with biotech startup Ernest Pharmaceuticals, have made significant progress in developing a non-toxic bacterial therapy capable of delivering cancer-fighting drugs directly into tumors. This revolutionary approach, which could transform how aggressive cancers such as liver and breast cancers are treated, is expected to enter clinical trials by 2027.
The groundbreaking research, published in the Journal Molecular Therapy and highlighted by ScienceDaily, represents over a decade of work by lead scientist Vishnu Raman, Chief Scientific Officer at Ernest Pharmaceuticals, and senior researcher Neil Forbes. The team has successfully engineered genetically modified strains of Salmonella to precisely target tumors, ensuring that cancer drugs are delivered directly into malignant cells while sparing healthy tissues from damage.
This innovation marks a significant shift from conventional cancer treatments, which often cause severe side effects due to their inability to distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells. “This treatment is so targeted; it can treat some cancers without the harsh side effects seen with other systematically delivered therapies, like chemotherapy,” Raman explained.
The key to the team’s success lies in their ability to control exactly when and how the bacteria invade cancer cells. In previous bacterial therapy attempts, researchers struggled to regulate the timing of drug release, increasing the risk of the bacteria affecting healthy cells. However, Raman and his team have developed a way to delay bacterial invasion until the cancer cells have been colonized, significantly reducing potential risks.
“In the first-generation strain, we were relying on the bacteria’s own biological mechanisms to find and attack tumors. But without precise control, there was a risk of invading healthy cells or being cleared by the body’s immune system before reaching the tumor,” Raman said. “We wanted to mitigate both risks, and we have now made this strain at least 100 times safer than anything tried in the past.”
Beyond its precision and safety, this bacterial therapy has another major advantage—it is self-replicating. Unlike chemotherapy or immunotherapy, where repeated dosing is required, the bacteria used in this method multiply inside the tumor, increasing the concentration of the cancer-fighting drugs over time. This ability to grow exponentially within tumors means a single dose could deliver significantly more therapy than initially administered, making the treatment both more effective and potentially more affordable.
Senior author Neil Forbes emphasized the importance of this research, stating that all the critical elements for an effective bacterial cancer treatment are now available. “This is an exciting advancement. We now have the ability to fine-tune the bacteria’s behavior to maximize its therapeutic effects while ensuring patient safety,” Forbes said.
The next stage for this promising treatment is clinical trials, which are scheduled to begin in 2027. If successful, this could mark a turning point in oncology, offering a revolutionary alternative to conventional treatments that have long been associated with debilitating side effects. Experts believe this approach could be particularly beneficial for patients with late-stage cancers who have limited treatment options.
As cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, advancements in patient-friendly, highly targeted therapies like this are critical. With years of meticulous research behind it, the bacterial cancer treatment developed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst could soon redefine cancer care, providing new hope for millions of patients worldwide.
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