Synlogic engineers E. coli to treat solid tumors

Synlogic Inc. (NASDAQ:SYBX) presented a pair of posters at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Chicago showing that E. coli Nissle genetically engineered to promote T cell activity could help treat solid tumors.

Tumors can generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment through the production of metabolites, such as adenosine and kynurenine, that leads to T cell dysfunction and exhaustion. Therapies that enhance T cell activity within tumors by depleting adenosine or kynurenine -- such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (INDO; IDO) inhibitors that decrease kynurenine levels -- could increase immunotherapy efficacy while avoiding systemic effects...