Scientists Turn Gut Bacteria Into Pancreatic Cancer Fighters

University of Chicago researchers engineered Bifidobacterium longum to deliver an immune-stimulating signal into pancreatic tumors in animal models.

The bacteria selectively localized to low-oxygen tumors and carried a modified interleukin-2 payload, SumIL-2.

In mice, the approach activated cancer-fighting T cells and slowed tumor growth, with stronger results when paired with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.

The work points to a bacteria-based delivery system that could boost existing treatments while limiting systemic side effects in pancreatic cancer.