Cancer fighting bacteria

Research has shown that certain bacteria can be used as tumoricidal agents, vehicles for gene therapy, cancer treatment, and immunotherapeutic agents. It has been found in mice that a combination of the bacteria C. novyi-NT and chemotherapy reduced tumor size but some mice died. There are also bacteria that are genetically modified to travel to the tumor and release certain proteins that act as anticancer agents.Toxins produced by bacteria can target cancer cells and are likely to have fewer side effects than current treatment. When the diphtheria toxin enters the cell through endocytosis it becomes active and can induct apoptosis. If the cell is a cancer cell, then this will be beneficial. Bacteria can be used as immunotherapeutic agents by increasing the antigenicity of the tumor, so the immune system will attack the tumor. A major issue with bacteria as a anticancer agent is dosage which can result in exaggerated infection and death.

More research needs to be done before most of the therapies involving bacteria can be clinically instituted, but I find it very interesting that something that is usually thought of negatively can potentially be helpful in fighting life threatening disease. Since cancer effects such a large portion of the population it is important that research is done to find better treatments.

http://www.jbiomedsci.com/content/17/1/21