Harnessing the Power of Microbiota and Metabolites to Treat Cancer

BACKGROUND 

The current invention relates to a method for the treatment of cancer using an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in combination with one or more bacteria selected from Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Lactobacillus johnsonii, and Olsenella species.

The inventors have isolated and cultured tumor-associated bacteria species from homogenized tumor tissue. They have identified three bacterial species that showed efficacy in enhancing the potency of ICIs in treating colorectal cancer (CRC). Without ICIs, those bacteria alone do not have effects on CRC. The inventors also identified inosine as the key microbial metabolite that mediates the immune-enhancing properties of bacteria. Inosine can be used in combination therapy with ICIs to treat CRC. The ICI-potentiating effect of bacteria is CRC-subtype specific.

AREAS OF APPLICATION 

• Treatment of cancer
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Bacterial-immune checkpoint blockade co-therapy

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

• Potential to lead to novel cancer therapeutics.
• Validated bacterial growth and isolation protocols.

PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

• Patent publications
  • WO2021081676A1
  • EP4048778A1
  • KR20220116438A
  • AU2020373179A1
  • CA3156203A1
• Journal publication: Mager et al. (2020). Microbiome-derived inosine modulates response to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Science 369(6510): 1481-1489.
• Researcher profile: Dr. Kathy McCoy
• Lab website: McCoy Research Lab