Cancer ResearchTumor Bacteria Inspire New Cancer Treatment That Starves Tumors of Energy
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago developed a new experimental cancer treatment derived from bacteria that naturally live inside tumors. The peptide, called aurB, is inspired by a bacterial protein called auracyanin and works by infiltrating cancer cells and disrupting their mitochondria — the energy-producing structures that aggressive tumors depend on. Unlike earlier treatments that relied on the p53 gene, which is frequently mutated in cancer patients, aurB operates independently of p53, potentially making it effective for a broader range of patients. In preclinical studies, aurB showed strong results in hormone therapy-resistant prostate cancer models, especially when combined with radiation. The findings were published in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.
