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Review
. 2024 Apr 24;22(1):239.
doi: 10.1186/s12964-024-01622-w.

Therapeutic bacteria and viruses to combat cancer: double-edged sword in cancer therapy: new insights for future

Aref Yarahmadi #  1 , Mitra Zare #  2 , Masoomeh Aghayari  3 , Hamed Afkhami  4   5   6 , Gholam Ali Jafari  7
Affiliations
Review

Therapeutic bacteria and viruses to combat cancer: double-edged sword in cancer therapy: new insights for future

Aref Yarahmadi et al. Cell Commun Signal. .

Abstract

Cancer, ranked as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, leads to the death of approximately seven million people annually, establishing itself as one of the most significant health challenges globally. The discovery and identification of new anti-cancer drugs that kill or inactivate cancer cells without harming normal and healthy cells and reduce adverse effects on the immune system is a potential challenge in medicine and a fundamental goal in Many studies. Therapeutic bacteria and viruses have become a dual-faceted instrument in cancer therapy. They provide a promising avenue for cancer treatment, but at the same time, they also create significant obstacles and complications that contribute to cancer growth and development. This review article explores the role of bacteria and viruses in cancer treatment, examining their potential benefits and drawbacks. By amalgamating established knowledge and perspectives, this review offers an in-depth examination of the present research landscape within this domain and identifies avenues for future investigation.

Keywords: Bacteria; Cancer; Immunotherapy; Therapy; Viruses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Virotherapy for cancer
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Colorectal cancer: In the bacterial treatment of colorectal cancer, the whole bacterial cell and its metabolites can be used, including probiotics associated with the bacteria, peptides such as bacteriocins, or bacterial toxins. The anti-cancer mechanism of this type of treatment includes: 1) Creating pores in the cell membrane, 2) induction of apoptosis, 3) TNF-α production, 4) inhibition of metastasis. Sometimes molecular sites lead to apoptosis of cancer cells through intrinsic or extrinsic pathways. C. perfringens enterotoxin (bacterial toxin) CPE can directly interact with claudin-3 and claudin-4, which are overexpressed in colorectal cancer cell membranes. Another mechanism of the anticancer effect of bacterial toxins is cytotoxicity through the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Bacteriocins create membranous adhesions when attached to the membrane and a specific type of cell surface that induces cell lysis and cell death
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Bacteriobots technique for cancer therapy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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