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Bacteria –The New ‘magic Bullet’ Against Cancer!


Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology
2 Department of Microbiology, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), 30, Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata -700 016, West Bengal, India
     

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Microbes in general, as also the commensal human microbiota, are an important modulator of disease physiology of the host, including affecting cancer proliferation and progression. Cancer metastasis still remains an enigma in origin and consequence, and is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality of man in the recent times. A myriad of beneficial immunological effects, including the highly important anti-cancer activities, have been attributed to some specific bacteria, as also some members of the human normal microflora. Even though there is no direct experimental evidence as of now, in support of cancer suppression as a result of microbial infestation in the human body, yet, there is a wealth of indirect evidence available in the literature, which is based largely on laboratory studies, and those will grossly be revisited in the present paper. As bacteria-mediated tumour therapy (BMTT) has ample potential to evolve into the much desired ‘magic bullet’ against various types of malignancies, this paper aims to present a state-of-the-art review on applicability of bacteria as cancer therapeutics. Further, this review will delineate the selective advantages of BMTT over the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs against cancer, and will also discuss the associated challenges ahead.

Keywords

Commensal Human Microbiota, Cancer Metastasis, BMTT, Magic Bullet, Malignancies, Cancer Therapeutics.
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  • Bacteria –The New ‘magic Bullet’ Against Cancer!

Abstract Views: 516  |  PDF Views: 5

Authors

Souvik Roy
Department of Biotechnology
Lopamudra Roy
Department of Microbiology, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), 30, Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata -700 016, West Bengal, India
Nilanjan Das
Department of Biotechnology

Abstract


Microbes in general, as also the commensal human microbiota, are an important modulator of disease physiology of the host, including affecting cancer proliferation and progression. Cancer metastasis still remains an enigma in origin and consequence, and is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality of man in the recent times. A myriad of beneficial immunological effects, including the highly important anti-cancer activities, have been attributed to some specific bacteria, as also some members of the human normal microflora. Even though there is no direct experimental evidence as of now, in support of cancer suppression as a result of microbial infestation in the human body, yet, there is a wealth of indirect evidence available in the literature, which is based largely on laboratory studies, and those will grossly be revisited in the present paper. As bacteria-mediated tumour therapy (BMTT) has ample potential to evolve into the much desired ‘magic bullet’ against various types of malignancies, this paper aims to present a state-of-the-art review on applicability of bacteria as cancer therapeutics. Further, this review will delineate the selective advantages of BMTT over the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs against cancer, and will also discuss the associated challenges ahead.

Keywords


Commensal Human Microbiota, Cancer Metastasis, BMTT, Magic Bullet, Malignancies, Cancer Therapeutics.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.24906/isc%2F2018%2Fv32%2Fi6%2F180788