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New Insights into Microbial-Based Cancer Therapy
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New Insights into Microbial-Based Cancer Therapy

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 6449

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Amitabha Ray

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Health Professions, D’Youville University, Buffalo, NY, USA
Interests: obesity; diabetes; neoplasia; cancer-related microbes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial-based cancer therapy is an emerging and innovative approach that harnesses the unique properties of microorganisms to treat cancer. Recent advancements in the understanding of the microbiome’s role in health and disease have paved the way for novel therapeutic strategies. Microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, possess inherent abilities to selectively target and kill cancer cells, stimulate immune responses, and deliver therapeutic agents directly to tumors. These capabilities are being explored in various forms, including oncolytic virotherapy, bacterial cancer therapy, and microbiome modulation. By leveraging the natural interactions between microorganisms and the host’s immune system, microbial-based therapies offer the potential to overcome some of the limitations of traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, including resistance, toxicity, and limited specificity. This approach not only promises more effective treatments but also emphasizes a personalized and less invasive approach to cancer care. This endeavor delves into the latest insights and breakthroughs in microbial-based cancer therapy, examining its mechanisms, current applications, and future prospects in revolutionizing cancer treatment.

Dr. Amitabha Ray
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Dr. Amitabha Ray
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microbial therapy
  • cancer immunotherapy
  • bioengineering
  • immune modulation
  • tumor microenvironment

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 8714 KB  
Article
Cell Line-Dependent Internalization, Persistence, and Immunomodulatory Effects of Staphylococcus aureus in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
by Sima Kianpour Rad, Runhao Li, Kenny K. L. Yeo, Clare Cooksley, Gohar Shaghayegh, Sarah Vreugde, Fangmeinuo Wu, Yoko Tomita, Timothy J. Price, Wendy V. Ingman, Amanda R. Townsend and Eric Smith
Cancers 2025, 17(18), 2947; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17182947 - 9 Sep 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2708
Abstract
Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with limited therapeutic options and inconsistent response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Emerging evidence indicates that tumor-associated bacteria may shape immune signaling and alter immunotherapy outcomes. Here, we investigated whether Staphylococcus aureus invades TNBC [...] Read more.
Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with limited therapeutic options and inconsistent response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Emerging evidence indicates that tumor-associated bacteria may shape immune signaling and alter immunotherapy outcomes. Here, we investigated whether Staphylococcus aureus invades TNBC cells, persists intracellularly, and modulates PD-L1 expression. Methods: Using eFluor450-labeled S. aureus for flow cytometry, gentamicin protection assays, CFU quantification, and transmission electron microscopy, we assessed bacterial uptake and persistence in six TNBC cell lines and a non-tumorigenic control. PD-L1, TLR2, and STAT1 activation were evaluated after infection or TLR2 ligand treatment ± IFN-γ. Results: At multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10, S. aureus internalized into 67% of MDA-MB-468 and 54% of MDA-MB-231, with intermediate uptake in Hs578T (27%) and BT-549 (24%) and only 0.5–9% in low-uptake lines (MDA-MB-453, CAL-51, MCF-12A). High-uptake lines exhibited marked cytotoxicity and reduced proliferation, with MDA-MB-468 showing an 82% drop in viability at 2 h and a 74% decrease after 5 d, whereas low-uptake lines showed minimal impact. Persistence lasted >7 d in MDA-MB-231 but only 3–5 days in others. IFN-γ plus S. aureus significantly amplified PD-L1, with up to a 2.9-fold increase in MDA-MB-468 and 1.5-fold in MDA-MB-231, but no effect in low-uptake lines. TLR2 agonists modestly increased PD-L1 in high-TLR2-expressing lines and synergized with IFN-γ. These effects were accompanied by STAT1 phosphorylation, supporting a TLR2/STAT1 axis linking bacterial sensing to immune checkpoint regulation. Conclusions: Together, these findings identify S. aureus as a modulator of immune signaling in TNBC and highlight the potential for microbial factors to influence ICI responsiveness. Targeting tumor–bacteria interactions may represent a novel strategy to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in breast cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Microbial-Based Cancer Therapy)
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Review

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15 pages, 726 KB  
Review
The Role of the Oral Microbiome in Modulating Therapeutic Outcomes in Lung Cancer: Key Commensals and Clinical Implications
by Tiara Hening Pertiwi, Ratoe Suraya, Masaya Akashi and Tatsuya Nagano
Cancers 2026, 18(4), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18040591 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 690
Abstract
Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide; thus, there is an urgent need to continually devise new strategies to effectively treat this condition. In this review, we will discuss one of the previously less studied but important aspects of [...] Read more.
Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer worldwide; thus, there is an urgent need to continually devise new strategies to effectively treat this condition. In this review, we will discuss one of the previously less studied but important aspects of the oral microbiome in both accelerating the development of lung cancer and modulating the efficacy of its treatment modalities. Herein, following an exhaustive search of available databases, we summarize the current knowledge on the association between oral microbiota and lung cancer, focusing on its impact on the efficacy and complications of widely used lung cancer treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. We also discuss the evidence supporting the use of oral microbiome-targeting interventions in improving outcomes in lung cancer, both preclinically and clinically, and conclude that the full potential of modulating oral dysbiosis in lung cancer has yet to be realized, requiring broader and larger-scale studies in the future. We hope that this review will highlight the importance of an often-forgotten aspect of lung cancer treatment optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Microbial-Based Cancer Therapy)
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23 pages, 371 KB  
Review
Microbiota and Pancreatic Cancer: New Therapeutic Frontiers Between Engineered Microbes, Metabolites and Non-Bacterial Components
by Sara Sofia De Lucia, Enrico Celestino Nista, Marcello Candelli, Sebastiano Archilei, Franziska Deutschbein, Enrico Capuano, Antonio Gasbarrini, Francesco Franceschi and Giulia Pignataro
Cancers 2025, 17(22), 3618; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17223618 - 10 Nov 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most aggressive and lethal human malignancies, with five-year survival rates showing only marginal improvement despite decades of intensive research. Its dismal prognosis reflects a combination of intrinsic biological aggressiveness, late clinical presentation, and marked resistance [...] Read more.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most aggressive and lethal human malignancies, with five-year survival rates showing only marginal improvement despite decades of intensive research. Its dismal prognosis reflects a combination of intrinsic biological aggressiveness, late clinical presentation, and marked resistance to standard therapies, underscoring the urgent need for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Growing evidence indicates that the microbiome is a modifiable factor influencing the onset, progression, and treatment response of PDAC. Microbial communities originating from the gut, oral cavity, and even the tumor microenvironment can shape carcinogenic pathways, modulate immune activity, and alter the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition to bacteria, fungal and viral populations are emerging as relevant contributors within this complex ecosystem. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current mechanistic and translational evidence linking the microbiome to PDAC biology and therapy. It further explores microbiota-targeted interventions—such as probiotics, postbiotics, engineered bacterial strains, bacteriophages, oncolytic viruses, and fecal microbiota transplantation—as promising adjuncts to conventional treatments. A deeper understanding of host–microbiome interactions could yield novel biomarkers and open innovative avenues for precision medicine in PDAC, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reshaping therapeutic paradigms. Integrating microbiome-based strategies into PDAC management may thus represent a crucial step toward more effective and personalized oncologic care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Microbial-Based Cancer Therapy)
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