A precise cancer therapy

00 Death

In the past decade, lung cancer has emerged as the most prevalent cancer, accounting for 11.6% of all cancer cases. Alarmingly, it stands as the primary cause of cancer-related deaths, representing a staggering 18.4% of all such fatalities. This translates to an estimated 1.76 million individuals losing their lives to lung cancer annually. These figures poignantly underscore the lethality of lung cancer, marking it not only as the most fatal among cancers but also a global health concern of paramount importance.

Current Treatment Limitations

Surgery

Surgery is one of the primary treatment modalities for lung cancer. However, it's essential to understand that surgery is most effective for patients in the early to intermediate stages of the disease. At these stages, the tumor is often localized and hasn't extensively spread to other parts of the body, making it feasible for complete surgical removal. Advanced stages of lung cancer typically involve metastasis to distant organs, which reduces the possibility of achieving a full cure solely through surgery.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for both early and advanced stages of lung cancer. However, while it can be effective, it carries significant drawbacks. Patients often experience fatigue, skin reactions, and changes in lung tissue leading to symptoms like coughing. Furthermore, there's an elevated risk of developing secondary cancers due to prolonged radiation exposure.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is frequently administered to treat various stages of lung cancer. While it has the potential to target and destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells, chemotherapy also poses notable challenges. The treatment can adversely affect healthy cells, leading to a range of side effects. These may include fatigue, hair loss, nausea, and a compromised immune system, making patients more susceptible to infections. Moreover, the effectiveness of chemotherapy can vary, and there's always a concern about the cancer cells developing resistance over time.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is employed for certain lung cancers, particularly those with specific mutations such ad EGFR and ALK. These drugs directly attack these mutated cancer cells. While they can be effective, challenges persist. Cancer cells might develop drug resistance over time. Side effects, such as rashes and high blood pressure, are common. Additionally, not all patients are eligible, as the therapy requires specific genetic markers.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, a treatment for some lung cancers, uses the immune system to target cancer cells. Common types are checkpoint inhibitors, particularly effective for those with markers like PD-L1. However, its effectiveness varies among patients. Some might experience side effects, including immune reactions, fatigue, and skin issues. Identifying suitable candidates remains crucial.

Our Solution

To overcome the current challenges in clinical lung cancer treatment, we propose a novel solution. Our goal is to establish a more efficient and low-side-effect method for lung cancer treatment and develop a new microbial-based tumor therapeutic system.

Machine Learning Classification

By utilizing the Random Forest model, we identify genes that significantly influence bacteria capable of surviving within the lung tumor environment. This provides pivotal insights for the selection and genetic modification of engineered bacteria.

Biological Gate Circuit

By utilizing the Random Forest model, we identify genes that significantly influence bacteria capable of surviving within the lung tumor environment. This provides pivotal insights for the selection and genetic modification of engineered bacteria.

Resveratrol Lysis System

After the treatment, patients can inhale aerosolized resveratrol, which triggers bacterial lysis, preventing excessive bacterial proliferation within the human body.

More than the Lab

During our "Human Practices" activities, the ZJUintl-China 2023 team proactively promoted cancer awareness by visiting Meitan in Guizhou and Jingdong in Yunnan, interacting with local children and sharing insights about cancer as well as our iGEM project. Furthermore, we engaged in substantive dialogues with medical experts from various hospitals, gaining invaluable clinical experience and obtaining feedback on our AI-based engineered bacteria treatment approach, discussing potential applications and improvements.