SKKU Researchers Develop World’s First Oral Microbiome-Based Nanomedicine to Supercharge Anti-Cancer Immunity
Researchers from SKKU and the University of Michigan have developed an oral nanomedicine that uses gut microbial metabolites to boost anti-cancer immunity. The treatment helps CD8+ T cells avoid metabolic exhaustion, significantly improving the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Why it matters
This breakthrough could address the current limitations of immunotherapy, potentially increasing the number of cancer patients who respond positively to treatment.
The gut microbial metabolite DHB promotes the formation of antigen-specific, stem-like CD8+ T cells by suppressing glycolysis and modulating the Akt-mTORC1-Myc pathway. Oral nano-emulsion formulation of DHB significantly improves its bioavailability, demonstrating potent anti-tumor efficacy when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Newswise — A joint research team - led by Professor Young Seok Cho from the School of Medicine, alongside Professor James J. Moon from the University of Michigan - has successfully developed the world's first oral, microbiome-based nanomedicine. By leveraging natural metabolites produced by gut bacteria, the new drug significantly enhances the ability of immune cells to attack cancer cells. This breakthrough study was published in the latest issue of Nature Nanotechnology , one of the world's premier journals in nanoscience and medicine.
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