Bacteria Used to Destroy Cancer Tumors in Mice

Bacteria Used to
Destroy Cancer Tumors
in Mice The study was published
in the journal Nature Medicine. Scientists genetically
reprogrammed bacteria
to create "nanobodies." Nanobodies can be thought
of as small, more potent
versions of antibodies. Antibodies attach to
proteins on cancer cells to
help the immune system
recognize the cells as dangerous. Bacteria use cancer cells
to colonize and as protection
from the human immune system. The modified bacteria
were injected into tumors,
and then began to multiply and
produce the tumor fighting nanobodies. The bacteria also "uncloaked"
the cancer cells, engaging
the immune system in the
fight against the tumors. If the method works in humans,
scientists are hopeful that it
could treat cancer "more precisely"
without harmful drug side effects.