The use of microbes has contributed significantly to the recent advances in immunotherapy for cancer. Accumulation of cancer-specific microbes in tumor tissue provides unique possibilities to come up with novel cancer therapy. Moreover, some studies suggested that probiotic bacteria are essential components in successful cancer immunotherapy due to their influence on immunomodulation. Probiotics existed naturally in our body in addition to fermented foods and supplements are generally considered to provide health advantages. Recently, we observed that lactic acid bacteria, probiotics isolated from kimchi (Kimchi-LAB), have a potential to target and clear cancers grafted in mouse models. To examine anti-cancer effect of Kimchi-LAB, CT26-bearing mouse were injected with the Kimchi-LAB and distribution of immune cells as well as bacteria were explored in the tumor tissue and other major organs. Kimchi-LAB accumulated preferentially within tumors in 1 h post-injection and persisted while immune cells infiltrated into tumor tissue, and that resulted in an inhibition of tumor growth and extension of animal survivals. This finding would lead to establishing a new strategy to enhance efficacy of bacteria-mediated cancer immunotherapy although further study is needed to clarify the underlying mechanism.

Therapeutic effect of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi in a mouse tumor model

ACS Fall 2021

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