NU 2015-087

INVENTORS

• Praveen Thumbikat*
• Anthony Schaeffer
• Jonathan Anker
• Sarki Abdulkadir

SHORT DESCRIPTION

This technology uses a genetically modified CP1 E. coli as an immunotherapeutic agent for prostate cancer. It offers a non-invasive treatment option designed to stimulate an immune response in both early stage and advanced disease.

BACKGROUND

Existing cancer immunotherapies have struggled with limited efficacy in prostate cancer. Current treatments such as surgery, radiation, and immune checkpoint inhibitors often fail due to poor tumor immune cell infiltration and significant side effects. Innovative approaches that can safely enhance immune activation with minimal side effects would greatly improve patient treatment options.

ABSTRACT

Prostate cancer affects hundreds of thousands of men annually and presents significant treatment challenges. Standard therapies bring major morbidities and limited survival benefits, particularly in castration-resistant forms. This invention repurposes a uropathogenic E. coli strain, CP1, originally isolated from chronic prostatitis, and genetically modifies it to boost its immunostimulatory capabilities. In laboratory models, CP1 triggers a T-cell inflammatory response and increases key biomarkers of inflammation without invasive procedures. This approach aims to offer a safer, non-invasive treatment for both early prostate cancer and advanced disease stages, potentially providing a platform for combination therapies in other cancers.

MARKET OPPORTUNITY

The global market for castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) therapeutics was valued at approximately $12.95 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% through 2030, driven by a growing aging population and the rising prevalence of advanced prostate cancer (Source: Grand View Research, 2025).

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

TRL-4 - Prototype Validated in Lab: Key immunostimulatory functions have been demonstrated in laboratory-scale models using CP1 E. coli.

APPLICATIONS

• Treatment of early stage prostate cancer and advanced CRPC
• Potential application in other cancers via expression of different tumor-associated antigens

ADVANTAGES

• Targets prostate tissue specifically.
• Stimulates immune response by recruiting key immune cells 
• Genetically modifiable

PUBLICATIONS

• Thumbikat et al, Multi-faceted immunomodulatory and tissue-tropic clinical bacterial isolate potentiates prostate cancer immunotherapy, Nature, 23 April 2018

IP STATUS

Issued US Patent 11/865,144 and US Patent Pending 18/350,557