BMJ Sub-Journal: Toxoplasma gondii has become a new hope for tumor treatment

In this study, the researchers first modified the mutant strain of Toxoplasma gondii to have a limited growth ability, causing diseases in cultured cells or mice, but at the same time being able to manipulate the host immune system

In a mouse model, direct injection of this mutant parasite can induce an inflammatory response in the injected tumor or even in the distant tumor of the mouse

After modified Toxoplasma gondii and anti-PD-L1 treatment, the survival time of melanoma, lung cancer and colon adenocarcinoma model mice was significantly prolonged, and tumor growth was reduced

Intratumoral administration of Toxoplasma can inhibit the growth of non-injected distant tumors

The researchers said that the study confirmed the effectiveness of intratumoral injection of mutant Toxoplasma strains to improve anti-tumor immunity and checkpoint suppression therapy

In summary, intratumoral injection of mutant Toxoplasma gondii can induce systemic effects, improve the immune response of mice, sensitize immune "cold" tumors, and make mice susceptible to immune checkpoint blocking therapy

 Article link: http://dx.