Injecting tumour with bacterium may sound an odd way to tackle cancer , but the idea has actually been around for some time . Doctors firstobservedthat bacterial infection can reduce or even eliminate tumors some 200 years ago . In the 1890s , a surgeon successfully care for thousands of Crab patients by inject them with deadStreptococcus . The idea for the most part lost interest group , but a few chemical group have experiment with the technique in recent class . Unfortunately , however , human trials previously generate disappointing results .
Undeterred by this , a team ofJohns Hopkinsresearchers have been pursue the idea for over a tenner . Now , in a recently publish sketch using a unlike bacterial species to previous study , they have demonstrated that this human body of therapy may actually work . Studies in rodents , wienerwurst and even a human being have all ascertain that this discourse can elicit a strong , specific antitumor reception . The work has been publish inScience Translational Medicine .
For their discipline , researchers used a grease bacterium calledClostridium novyi . This species is anaerobiotic think of that it thrives in an absence of oxygen . This gadget characteristic work it an ideal candidate for cancer therapy because many cells in tumour are atomic number 8 - thirst . C. noyvican induce contagion in certain animate being and humans , so the squad polish off its toxin - create genes to make it safe .
The team began by injecting bacterial spores directly into the tumors of rats with a certain type of brain cancer . Theyfoundthat the treatment elicited a accurate , localize antitumor reaction , spar sizable tissuejust a few centimeters away from the tumor . Furthermore , survival rates of the animal were improved .
What happens in rodent models does not needfully reflect what may happen in humans , however , so the researchers turned to dogs . This is because naturally occurring canine tumors are more representative of human tumors than rodent modelling of Crab since they canarise spontaneouslyand also share certain genetic similarity .
Once again , the researcher inject the modified bacterial spores into the tumour of 16 companion dog and observed the responses . Theyfoundthat the discussion was well - tolerate , although they show minor symptom associated with bacterial infections such as feverishness and excitement . The tumors were bump to boil down in size of it in 6 of the weenie and 3 were all eradicated of cancer .
engage this one step further , the investigator initiated aPhase 1clinical trial which is ongoing . One patient with forward-looking indulgent tissue tumour was injected just1%of the dose the dogs receive into a tumor in her arm . The tumor significantly shrank , but unfortunately she later go from her other metastasized tumor .
The researchershypothesizethat the therapy lick because the proliferating bacterium release enzymes that put down the cancerous cells . Furthermore , the bacteria also seem to stimulate a unattackable immune response against the tumour cells . The treatment is also very specific because the bacteria only grow in oxygen - starve tumor cell , exit surrounding tissue unscathed . However , the localized nature of the intervention is a double - edged blade because it mean it may not be useful for patients with metastases .
Of naturally , the research worker involve to prove that the therapy works in more people before we can get too excited , but human visitation are currentlyongoing . The team believe the therapy may be particularly effective if meld with other treatments such as chemotherapy or actinotherapy .
[ ViaScience , Science Translational MedicineandJohns Hopkins School of Medicine ]
