Gang Zhou, PhD, who leads the Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance research program at the Georgia Cancer Center, is exploring the use of genetically modified salmonella to improve cancer immunotherapy. Zhou, also a professor at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, explained that while wild-type salmonella is known for causing foodborne illness, engineered strains can be used therapeutically.
“For many years, it has been known that certain bacteria, including salmonella, are inherently immunogenic, meaning they can be harnessed to stimulate the immune system and improve cancer immunotherapy,” Zhou said.
Genetically modified salmonella strains have shown potential to remodel the tumor microenvironment. This environment often allows cancer cells to evade detection by suppressing immune responses. According to Zhou’s research, engineered salmonella can reprogram this environment and help expose tumors to immune attack by T lymphocytes.
Current treatments like CAR-T therapy—where a patient’s own T cells are engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to target cancer—have had success in blood cancers such as B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma after receiving FDA approval. However, their effectiveness in treating solid tumors remains limited.
Zhou’s project aims to combine CAR-T therapy with engineered immunogenic salmonella strains to improve outcomes for patients. “The overall goal of our project is to provide proof-of-concept for approaches that utilize immunogenic salmonella strains in combination with CAR-T therapy to enhance patient outcomes,” he said.
A recent study from Zhou’s team demonstrated that a modified strain of salmonella could selectively colonize tumors and enhance CAR-T therapy efficacy in a mouse model of lymphoma. The next phase will focus on understanding how these bacteria reprogram the tumor microenvironment using single-cell RNA sequencing technology. Later work will expand into solid tumor models resistant to current therapies.
“Research like this can be risky because it explores untested concepts,” Zhou said. “I am grateful to Paceline for this critical funding so that my team and other researchers here at the Georgia Cancer Center can pursue new treatment avenues.”
Since 2019, Paceline has raised nearly $1.7 million for innovative cancer research and supported over 30 projects at the Georgia Cancer Center. This year’s PaceDay fundraising event will include walking and running options alongside cycling when it takes place on October 5, 2025.
Augusta University continues its efforts in advancing research aimed at improving lives locally and beyond through ongoing partnerships and support.
