A team of researchers from Umeå University in Sweden has made a surprising discovery that could lead to new ways of treating colorectal cancer.
They found that a substance made by cholera bacteria, which normally causes severe diarrhea, may actually help stop the growth of colorectal cancer cells—without causing harm to the rest of the body.
Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon and rectum, is the third most common cancer in the world. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally.
Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are often used to fight this cancer, and while they can be effective, they also come with serious side effects. That’s why researchers are always looking for new treatment options that work well and are safer for the body.
In this new study, the researchers focused on a toxin called MakA, which is made by the bacteria that causes cholera, Vibrio cholerae. Even though this bacteria causes illness, scientists found that when MakA is purified and carefully given to mice with colorectal cancer, it has powerful anti-cancer effects.
The substance didn’t just attack the cancer cells directly. It also helped change the environment around the tumor in a way that made the body’s immune system more active in fighting the cancer.
The treatment increased the number of important immune cells—such as macrophages and neutrophils—inside the tumors. These cells are known to help the body attack and slow down cancer.
One of the most exciting findings was that MakA collected in the tumor areas but did not damage healthy tissue in the mice.
After repeated doses, there were no signs of weight loss, inflammation, or harm to vital organs like the liver, heart, or kidneys. This suggests that MakA acts mainly inside the tumor and does not spread dangerous effects throughout the body.
The researchers also looked at what was happening inside the tumors. They found that MakA caused more cancer cells to die and reduced their ability to multiply.
It also helped the tumor produce chemical signals that support the immune system and protect healthy cells nearby. This balance of attacking cancer while keeping the rest of the body safe makes MakA a promising candidate for future cancer treatments.
Although these early results are promising, the study was done in mice, not humans. The researchers say that more work is needed to understand how MakA works and to test it in other animal models. Only after further research can we know whether it will be safe and effective for people.
Still, this study opens up a new idea in cancer treatment: using substances made by bacteria to help fight cancer. It shows how we might be able to turn something harmful into something helpful.
The lead authors, Sun Nyunt Wai and Saskia Erttmann, believe this could be a big step toward developing treatments that not only kill cancer cells but also support the body’s own natural defenses.
In summary, this study shows that the MakA toxin from cholera bacteria could one day become a new way to treat colorectal cancer. It works by stopping tumor growth and helping the immune system without causing harm to the rest of the body. The next step will be more research to see if it can safely work in people and in other types of cancer as well.
For more information about gut health, please see recent studies about the crucial link between diet, gut health, and the immune system and results showing that Low-gluten, high-fiber diets boost gut health and weight loss.
For more information about gut health, please see recent studies about Navigating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with diet and results showing that Mycoprotein in diet may reduce risk of bowel cancer and improve gut health.
The study is published in Cell Death & Disease.
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