Weakened Listeria bacteria to boost the immune attack against cancer
Reversing cancer immunosuppression using attenuated Listeria monocytogenes
This project looks at whether a weakened Listeria bacterium can reprogram tumors so people’s immune systems and immunotherapies can work better against cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320761 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using an attenuated (weakened) strain of Listeria monocytogenes to change the immune environment inside tumors so they are less able to suppress immune attack. They deliver the bacteria directly into tumors and also study what happens when it is given into the bloodstream, tracking how the bacteria persist in tumors and alter immune cell types. Laboratory work in animals shows reductions in regulatory immune cells that normally block anti-tumor responses, and the team links this effect to activation of a specific immune receptor (TLR2). The goal is to make tumors more responsive to existing immune therapies like vaccines and adoptive T cell treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors—especially those receiving or eligible for immunotherapy and with tumors that can be injected directly—would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with blood cancers, severely weakened immune systems, or tumors that cannot be accessed for injection may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immune-based cancer treatments work better for people with solid tumors by reducing tumor-driven immune suppression.
How similar studies have performed: Listeria-based cancer vaccines and other bacterial immunotherapies have shown promise in preclinical models and early-phase human trials, but the approach remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Portnoy, Daniel a — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Portnoy, Daniel a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.