WIKIMEDIA, VOLKER BRINKMANNA genetically manipulated version of the gastroenteritis-causing bacteria Salmonella typhimurium is a potent destroyer of mouse tumors, according to a report published today (February 8) in Science Translational Medicine. The paper adds to a growing body of research investigating bacterial cancer treatments, and reveals an immunological mechanism that contributes to bacteria-driven, cancer–killing activity.
“I am super excited about applications for microbiota to eliminate cancer,” MIT’s Susan Erdman, who was not involved in the work, wrote in an email to The Scientist. “This work is part of a promising frontier in using bacteria or their products to stimulate beneficial host immune responses to inhibit and suppress cancer development and growth.”
The oxygen-starved and necrotic cores of tumors are attractive environments for anaerobic bacteria such as Salmonella, Clostridium, and Listeria, and an infection can lead to tumor colonization by these bugs. As the bacteria busily multiply, they can directly kill the cancer cells, but also attract the attention of the body’s immune system (which is generally suppressed within tumors), leading to further tumor destruction.
While this is the reasoning behind ...
