Cancer breakthrough: AUN bacteria cancer treatment kills tumours without immune system support

For over 150 years, doctors have tried to fight cancer by turning the body’s immune system into a weapon. From the early experiments of William Coley in the 1890s to today’s advanced checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T therapies, immunotherapy has become a central pillar of modern oncology. But there has always been one serious limitation: these treatments depend on a healthy, responsive immune system. For patients weakened by chemotherapy, radiation, or underlying illness, immunotherapy often falls short.Now, researchers at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) have introduced a radically different approach. In a recent study published in Nature, researchers developed the AUN bacteria cancer treatment, a novel therapy that destroys tumours without requiring assistance from the immune system. By harnessing two very different bacteria that work in harmony, scientists have created a balanced system that directly infiltrates and kills cancer cells. Early results are so promising that this discovery is being hailed as a turning point in cancer research, offering hope for patients who have been left behind by traditional therapies.Bacteria have been linked to cancer treatment since the 19th century, when infections were observed to shrink tumours. William Coley formalised this idea with “Coley’s toxins,” now regarded as the birth of immunotherapy. Over time, this evolved into today’s immune-based treatments, which revolutionised survival rates in some cancers.However, the weakness of these therapies is clear: when the immune system is suppressed, they cannot function. The AUN bacteria cancer treatment represents a return to bacterial therapy, but in a safer, more controlled, and scientifically engineered form. Instead of depending on immunity, it works independently, making it especially valuable for patients with fragile health.The therapy uses a carefully engineered balance of two bacteria:The balance is key. At injection, the mix contains about 3% A-gyo and 97% UN-gyo. But once inside the tumour, that ratio flips, becoming almost 99% A-gyo. This shift ensures maximum tumour killing while UN-gyo moderates side effects. The name AUN, drawn from a Japanese concept of harmony, reflects this synchronised partnership.Unlike checkpoint inhibitors or CAR-T cells, the AUN bacteria cancer treatment does not require immune activity. In preclinical trials using both mouse and human tumour models, researchers found:This positions AUN as a therapy that can reach patients for whom existing options are too risky or ineffective.Professor Eijiro Miyako, who led the JAIST research team, confirmed that efforts are underway to move this discovery beyond the lab. Plans are in motion to launch a startup company dedicated to AUN therapy, to enter clinical trials within six years.While the path to approval will take time, the promise is extraordinary: a cancer treatment that works even for those with compromised immunity.The significance of this breakthrough goes far beyond one experiment. It challenges 150 years of assumptions about how to treat cancer and offers a lifeline to patients who cannot benefit from current immunotherapies. If clinical trials confirm its safety and effectiveness, AUN therapy could become a cornerstone of cancer care, safe, targeted, and immune-independent.In many ways, this discovery closes a historical circle. What began in the 19th century as crude attempts to harness bacteria has now evolved into a precise, balanced therapy with real potential to transform oncology. With the AUN bacteria cancer treatment, medicine may finally have a new tool that rewrites the rules of cancer therapy and opens a future where more patients can find hope.Also read| Why UTIs in children spike during monsoon and how to prevent them