Research team kill cancer with salmonella bug
DOCTORS last night hailed a groundbreaking study that found salmonella can wipe out tumours.
The food poisoning bug was genetically modified to make it harmless, then injected into mice with colon cancer. The disease vanished in more than half of them.
It had a similar effect in human tissue. Experts said the treatment would be a welcome replacement for chemotherapy as it has no side effects.
The bacteria triggers the body’s immune system into fighting tumours and starving them of nutrients they need to grow. It could eventually be used to treat a range of cancers.
The study was carried out at Chonnam National University in South Korea.
It said: “The engineered bacteria induced an effective anti-tumour immune response, successfully treating tumours in several different mouse models with no evidence of toxicity.
“The tumour was no longer detectable in 11 of 20 mice at the end point.”
Previous research has hinted bacteria such as salmonella could help in the fight against cancer. But this is the first to prove it can kill the disease.
Chonnam plan to start preclinical and clinical trials.
The Institute of Cancer Research in London praised the study. Professor Kevin Harrington said: “This is a fascinating new approach to using bacteria.”