The article discusses the potential of engineered oral bacteria in cancer therapy, highlighting their unique advantages and mechanisms of action. Oral bacteria, with their diverse species and adaptability to the oral environment, offer a promising platform for targeted cancer treatment. The review covers several key aspects: 1. **Mechanisms of Engineered Bacteria Targeting Tumors**: - **Targeting and Localization**: Bacteria can be engineered to express binding peptides or secrete toxins to target specific tumor biomarkers and colonize tumors. - **Therapeutic Mechanisms**: Engineered bacteria can induce direct and indirect cytotoxicity, express prodrug-converting enzymes, activate immune responses, and sense physical factors like temperature and magnetic fields. - **ROS Production**: Bacteria can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cause cellular damage and induce apoptosis. 2. **Application in Tumor Therapy**: - **Administration Routes**: Oral, intravenous, and intratumoral injection are major routes for delivering engineered bacteria. Each route has its advantages and challenges. - **Immunotherapy**: Engineered bacteria can enhance immune checkpoint inhibition, immune cell infiltration, and tumor vaccines. - **Drug Delivery Systems**: Bacteria can serve as efficient drug delivery vehicles, targeting specific tissues and reducing systemic toxicity. - **Gene-Targeted Bacterial Therapy**: Bacteria can be engineered to deliver customized payloads, such as DNA, RNA, or proteins, to tumor cells. 3. **Clinical Trials**: - Several engineered bacterial strains are being evaluated in clinical trials, showing promising results in various cancer types. 4. **Overview of Oral Microbiota in Carcinogenesis**: - The article reviews the role of specific oral bacteria, such as *Fusobacterium nucleatum* and *Porphyromonas gingivalis*, in cancer development and progression. These bacteria can influence tumor microenvironment, immune responses, and chemoresistance. The review emphasizes the potential of engineered oral bacteria as a safe and effective therapeutic approach, highlighting the need for further research to optimize their use in cancer treatment.The article discusses the potential of engineered oral bacteria in cancer therapy, highlighting their unique advantages and mechanisms of action. Oral bacteria, with their diverse species and adaptability to the oral environment, offer a promising platform for targeted cancer treatment. The review covers several key aspects: 1. **Mechanisms of Engineered Bacteria Targeting Tumors**: - **Targeting and Localization**: Bacteria can be engineered to express binding peptides or secrete toxins to target specific tumor biomarkers and colonize tumors. - **Therapeutic Mechanisms**: Engineered bacteria can induce direct and indirect cytotoxicity, express prodrug-converting enzymes, activate immune responses, and sense physical factors like temperature and magnetic fields. - **ROS Production**: Bacteria can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cause cellular damage and induce apoptosis. 2. **Application in Tumor Therapy**: - **Administration Routes**: Oral, intravenous, and intratumoral injection are major routes for delivering engineered bacteria. Each route has its advantages and challenges. - **Immunotherapy**: Engineered bacteria can enhance immune checkpoint inhibition, immune cell infiltration, and tumor vaccines. - **Drug Delivery Systems**: Bacteria can serve as efficient drug delivery vehicles, targeting specific tissues and reducing systemic toxicity. - **Gene-Targeted Bacterial Therapy**: Bacteria can be engineered to deliver customized payloads, such as DNA, RNA, or proteins, to tumor cells. 3. **Clinical Trials**: - Several engineered bacterial strains are being evaluated in clinical trials, showing promising results in various cancer types. 4. **Overview of Oral Microbiota in Carcinogenesis**: - The article reviews the role of specific oral bacteria, such as *Fusobacterium nucleatum* and *Porphyromonas gingivalis*, in cancer development and progression. These bacteria can influence tumor microenvironment, immune responses, and chemoresistance. The review emphasizes the potential of engineered oral bacteria as a safe and effective therapeutic approach, highlighting the need for further research to optimize their use in cancer treatment.