Soil Dwelling Bacteria Found to kill Tumors
Society for
General Microbiology
Laura Udakis
4-Sep-2011
A bacterial strain that specifically
targets tumours could soon be used as a vehicle to
deliver drugs in frontline cancer therapy. The strain is expected to be tested
in cancer patients in 2013 says a scientist at the Society for General Microbiology's
Autumn Conference at the University of York.
The therapy uses Clostridium sporogenes – a bacterium that is widespread in the
soil. Spores of the bacterium are injected into patients and only grow in solid
tumours, where a specific bacterial enzyme is
produced. An anti-cancer drug is injected separately into the patient in an
inactive 'pro-drug' form. When the pro-drug reaches the site of the tumour, the bacterial enzyme activates the drug, allowing
it to destroy only the cells in its vicinity – the tumour
cells.
Researchers at the
A fundamental requirement for any new
cancer therapy is the ability to target cancer cells while excluding healthy
cells. Professor Nigel Minton, who is leading the research, explains how this
therapy naturally fulfils this need. "Clostridia are an ancient group of
bacteria that evolved on the planet before it had an oxygen-rich atmosphere and
so they thrive in low oxygen conditions. When Clostridia spores are injected
into a cancer patient, they will only grow in oxygen-depleted environments,
i.e. the centre of solid tumours. This is a totally natural
phenomenon, which requires no fundamental alterations and is exquisitely
specific. We can exploit this specificity to kill tumour
cells but leave healthy tissue unscathed," he said.
The research may ultimately lead to a
simple and safe procedure for curing a wide range of solid tumours.
"This therapy will kill all types of tumour
cell. The treatment is superior to a surgical procedure, especially for
patients at high risk or with difficult tumour
locations," explained Professor Minton. "We anticipate that the
strain we have developed will be used in a clinical trial in 2013 led by Jan Theys and Philippe Lambin at the