A team of scientists in Japan has developed a new way to treat cancer that does not rely on the body’s immune system.
This is important because many cancer treatments today, like immunotherapy, only work well if the immune system is strong.
For patients whose immunity is weakened by chemotherapy or other reasons, these treatments often fail. The new method, called AUN therapy, could change that.
The research was led by Professor Eijiro Miyako at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). He worked with scientists from Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. and the University of Tsukuba to create this innovative treatment.
AUN therapy uses a combination of two types of bacteria that work together to attack and kill cancer cells—even in people whose immune systems are not working well.
The idea of using bacteria to fight cancer is not new. In fact, it goes back to the 1800s. A German doctor named Busch noticed that a cancer patient improved after being infected with bacteria. Later, in 1893, Dr. William Coley created a bacterial treatment for cancer, which became an early form of immunotherapy.
Today’s advanced treatments, like checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy, came from this early work. However, they all share a major problem—they need the immune system to be strong to be effective.
AUN therapy is different. It works without needing help from the immune system. It is made from two natural bacteria:
Proteus mirabilis, called A-gyo, and Rhodopseudomonas palustris, called UN-gyo. These two bacteria act like a team. One targets and attacks cancer cells directly, while the other helps control the process and reduce harmful side effects.
Here’s how it works: A-gyo is a kind of bacteria that naturally lives in tumors. It changes its shape in the tumor environment, becoming stronger at killing cancer cells. UN-gyo, a photosynthetic bacterium, helps A-gyo work better and keeps it from causing too much damage.
When the therapy starts, the bacteria are mostly UN-gyo, but inside the tumor, the mix changes so that A-gyo becomes the main force. This shift helps destroy cancer cells more effectively.
One of the best parts of AUN therapy is that it doesn’t cause many side effects. It even avoids a serious reaction known as cytokine release syndrome, which can happen with some other treatments. The bacteria also adjust their actions based on what’s happening inside the tumor, making the therapy smart and targeted.
The name AUN comes from a Japanese idea of balance between opposites. In this therapy, A-gyo and UN-gyo balance each other perfectly. One attacks, the other controls. They work in harmony to fight cancer safely and effectively. This balance is what makes the treatment special and successful where other methods fail.
The researchers are now working to move this discovery forward. Professor Miyako said they plan to launch a startup company and hope to begin human trials within the next six years. If successful, this could be a turning point for cancer treatment, especially for patients who currently have few options.
In reviewing the study’s findings, AUN therapy appears to be a true breakthrough. It builds on over 150 years of research and takes bacterial cancer therapy to a new level.
By not depending on the immune system, it offers a chance for patients who are often left behind by today’s treatments. Its unique design, with two bacteria working in balance, also shows how natural systems can be used in clever ways to fight disease.
This new method could open the door to a new era of cancer therapy—one that brings hope to many people around the world.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher cancer risk, and how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.
The study is published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
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