The researchers explained how the approach, detailed in a paper published today (Dec. 2) in Nature Communications, could be personalized to a patient’s specific health needs, while delivering more efficient treatment at a cost comparable to, or lower than, existing cancer treatment options.

How immunotherapy uses bacteria

According to lead author Pak Kin Wong, professor of biomedical engineering and of mechanical engineering at Penn State, one of the most promising approaches to treating cancer is immunotherapy, where doctors use a patient’s immune system to target cancer cells. In bladder cancer, doctors can introduce live bacteria into a patient’s body to engage their immune system in the fight against cancerous cells.