Ofer Mandelboim, PhD

Named Grant:

The Simon Family Foundation Project Grant

About the Investigator:

Prof. Ofer Mandelboim is the head of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research and head of the Department of Immunology and Cancer Research, at a rank of Full Professor. He received his masters degree and PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Science and performed post-doctoral research at Harvard University as a Fulbright Scholar. Prof. Mandelboim joined the Hebrew University as an Independent PI in 1999.

About the Research:

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common oral bacterium. Surprisingly, recent studies have found it also occurs in high amounts in certain cancers, including cancers of the colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast, where it is associated with tumor progression and metastases. The bacteria have been found to colonize tumors and interact with the immune system, promoting tumor proliferation and resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as protecting tumors from immune cell attack. There is no specific treatment against F. nucleatum, and the use of antibiotics is undesirable as they could destroy helpful bacteria in the human microbiome that possess anti-tumor properties. Thus, there is an urgent need for a targeted treatment that can safely combat this harmful bacteria.

Researchers have found an important part of Fusobacterium nucleatum called Fusolisin, an enzyme that the bacteria need to grow. This enzyme appears to help create an environment that encourages tumors to develop. In his preliminary results, Prof. Manelboim’s team has demonstrated that Fusolisin cleaves cytokines and chemokines, thereby creating a pro-tumorigenic microenvironment. Importantly, the team has developed an anti-fusolisin antibody that effectively blocks fusolisin activity and reduces tumor growth in vivo. The proposed research aims to develop urgently needed specific treatments against F. nucleatum based on the anti-fusolisin antibody to help improve cancer outcomes.  This is an exciting development in the fight against cancer, as it may provide a new way to treat patients who are affected by the many types of tumors related to this bacterium.