ReviewBiomaterials research2026
Biomaterials Based on Bacteria for Cancer Clinical Therapy.
Review in Biomaterials research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Modeling cancer with bacteria-integrated tumor microenvironments using biomaterials: Emerging concepts and opportunities.Materials today. Bio · 2026Review
- Oncolytic bacteria therapy for malignant glioma.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Cancer remains a major global health burden, necessitating innovative therapies. Bacterial therapy has reemerged as a transformative strategy, particularly for the potential to overcome resistance to conventional treatments. Bacteria could selectively colonize the hypoxic, acidic, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Besides, synthetic biology has enabled these bacteria to be engineered into precise living therapeutics, capable of localized drug delivery, targeted immune modulation, and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. This review systematically explores the mechanisms by which engineered bacteria exert antitumor effects, including direct oncolysis, immunogenic cell death, and reversal of immunosuppression. Furthermore, the synergistic potential of bacterial therapy with standard therapies is discussed. Bacteria can sensitize tumors to chemotherapy through prodrug activation or reverse microbiota-mediated chemoresistance. In radiotherapy, bacteria could act as radiosensitizers and radioprotectors while amplifying abscopal effects. Combined with immunotherapy, they effectively convert immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones, enhancing the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The role of the gut microbiota in shaping systemic antitumor immunity is also discussed. Finally, the article critically assesses the clinical translation landscape, examining representative strains in development, addressing safety and manufacturing challenges, and highlighting future directions. This review aims to provide a foundational perspective for developing safer and more effective bacterially mediated anticancer strategies.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.