Programmable bacteria induce durable tumor regression and systemic antitumor immunity

Synthetic biology is driving a new era of medicine through the genetic programming of living cells(1,2). This transformative approach allows for the creation of engineered systems that intelligently sense and respond to diverse environments, ultimately adding specificity and efficacy that extends beyond the capabilities of molecular-based therapeutics(3–6). One particular focus area has been the engineering of bacteria as therapeutic delivery systems to selectively release therapeutic payloads in vivo(7–11). Here, we engineered a non-pathogenic E. coli to specifically lyse within the tumor microenvironment and release an encoded nanobody antagonist of CD47 (CD47nb)(12), an anti-phagocytic receptor commonly overexpressed in several human cancers(13,14). We show that delivery of CD47nb by tumor-colonizing bacteria increases activation of tumor-infiltrating T cells, stimulates rapid tumor regression, prevents metastasis, and leads to long-term survival in a syngeneic tumor model. Moreover, we report that local injection of CD47nb bacteria stimulates systemic tumor antigen–specific immune responses that reduce the growth of untreated tumors – providing, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of an abscopal effect induced by an engineered bacterial immunotherapy. Thus, engineered bacteria may be used for safe and local delivery of immunotherapeutic payloads leading to systemic antitumor immunity.