Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy
Current clinical cancer treatments primarily rely on surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy; however, each approach has inherent limitations. In recent years, nanomaterials have gained significant attention in oncology due to their advantages in precise drug delivery, enhanced target...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1551924/full |
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| author | Yinwu Kong Han Bai Feifei Deng Yaomin Zhao Qianyan Li Li Chang |
| author_facet | Yinwu Kong Han Bai Feifei Deng Yaomin Zhao Qianyan Li Li Chang |
| author_sort | Yinwu Kong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Current clinical cancer treatments primarily rely on surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy; however, each approach has inherent limitations. In recent years, nanomaterials have gained significant attention in oncology due to their advantages in precise drug delivery, enhanced targeting, and improved therapeutic efficacy. Nevertheless, their clinical application remains limited by challenges such as complex synthesis, high costs, low delivery efficiency, and poor biodegradability. Bifidobacterium (BBM), a clinically used probiotic, has demonstrated unique tumor-targeting potential due to its obligate anaerobic nature, allowing it to selectively colonize, proliferate, and expand within the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Recent advancements in synthetic biology and bacterial engineering have enabled the modification of Bifidobacterium as a microrobot for molecular imaging, drug or gene delivery, and other therapeutic functions. Compared to nanomaterials, Bifidobacterium-based bacterial therapy holds promise in overcoming certain limitations while potentially enhancing comprehensive cancer treatment by modulating the tumor microenvironment and boosting host immune responses. This review summarizes the latest progress in Bifidobacterium-mediated tumor imaging and therapy, explores its mechanisms of action, engineering strategies, and clinical applications, and discusses future directions for optimizing its functional design to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-656ae5144e4a4d2eb04b939d5ac4c95f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-656ae5144e4a4d2eb04b939d5ac4c95f2025-08-20T01:52:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-05-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15519241551924Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapyYinwu Kong0Han Bai1Feifei Deng2Yaomin Zhao3Qianyan Li4Li Chang5Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaYunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaThe 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, ChinaYunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaYunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaYunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaCurrent clinical cancer treatments primarily rely on surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy; however, each approach has inherent limitations. In recent years, nanomaterials have gained significant attention in oncology due to their advantages in precise drug delivery, enhanced targeting, and improved therapeutic efficacy. Nevertheless, their clinical application remains limited by challenges such as complex synthesis, high costs, low delivery efficiency, and poor biodegradability. Bifidobacterium (BBM), a clinically used probiotic, has demonstrated unique tumor-targeting potential due to its obligate anaerobic nature, allowing it to selectively colonize, proliferate, and expand within the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Recent advancements in synthetic biology and bacterial engineering have enabled the modification of Bifidobacterium as a microrobot for molecular imaging, drug or gene delivery, and other therapeutic functions. Compared to nanomaterials, Bifidobacterium-based bacterial therapy holds promise in overcoming certain limitations while potentially enhancing comprehensive cancer treatment by modulating the tumor microenvironment and boosting host immune responses. This review summarizes the latest progress in Bifidobacterium-mediated tumor imaging and therapy, explores its mechanisms of action, engineering strategies, and clinical applications, and discusses future directions for optimizing its functional design to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1551924/fullbifidobacteriummalignant tumorsnanomaterialstumor hypoxic microenvironmenttumor targetingimmune activation |
| spellingShingle | Yinwu Kong Han Bai Feifei Deng Yaomin Zhao Qianyan Li Li Chang Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy Frontiers in Oncology bifidobacterium malignant tumors nanomaterials tumor hypoxic microenvironment tumor targeting immune activation |
| title | Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy |
| title_full | Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy |
| title_fullStr | Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy |
| title_short | Application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy |
| title_sort | application of bifidobacterium in tumor therapy |
| topic | bifidobacterium malignant tumors nanomaterials tumor hypoxic microenvironment tumor targeting immune activation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1551924/full |
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