In a new study that combines synthetic biology with cancer immunotherapy, researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) and Central South University in China have developed an engineered strain of gut-homing bacteria that stimulates potent antitumor immune responses against colorectal cancer (CRC).

Antitumor immune responses refer to the actions taken by the body’s immune system to recognize, attack, and destroy cancer cells. It operates like the body’s internal surveillance system, spotting rogue cells (like tumor cells) and activating its defense forces to eliminate them.

Harnessing the immune system to fight cancer offers a powerful and precise approach to disease control. Unlike traditional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, which can harm healthy cells, immune responses can selectively target and destroy cancer cells with high specificity.