Lecture 17: Bacterial Cancer Therapy Flashcards
What is bacterial cancer therapy?
Introduction of bacteria into tumours to generate an immune response OR target the tumour itself
Antigens released from dying tumour cels are taken up by activated dendritic cells; which then migrate to draining lymph nodes and prime adaptive immunity in the form of cytotoxic T cells that seek and destroy tumour cells
Who was Dr William Colney?
Injected cancer patients with a cocktail of heat killed bacteria to stimulate anti-cancer immune responses
What is BMCT?
Bacteria modified cancer therapy
How can live bacteria be used in BMCT?
These can specifically target tumours, actively penetrate tissue, and easily detected and can controllably induce cytotoxicity
Salmoella, Clostridium and other genera have been shown to control tumour growth and promote survival in animal models
What bacterial features can be utilised for novel cancer therapies?
1) Selective colonisation
2) Motility
3) Immunostimulation
4) Vector for active delivery of molecules
Can lead to:
increased tumour cell apoptosis
inhibition of angiogenesis
reduction of cell proliferation
Do all bacterias produce the same anti-cancer responses?
Yes and no. Some are unique, some are created by all bacteria
Do all bacteria aid cancer therapy?
No, some enhance the ris of cancer
How is Bifidobacterium logum used?
Selectively grows in hypoxic regions of solid tumours
How is Clostridium novyi used?
Spores germinated in avascular regions of mouse tumours and destroy viable yumor cells
How is salmonella used?
Auxotrophic mutants have nutritional requirements met within tumour environment - replicate 1000x faster than in normal tumours
