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Treating cancer with infection: a review on bacterial cancer therapy
Author(s) -
Wong S.,
Slavcev R.A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/lam.12436
Subject(s) - immunogenicity , bacteria , cancer , cancer therapy , immunotherapy , biology , cancer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , cancer research , immunology , immune system , genetics
There is an increasing need for new cancer therapies. The antitumour effect of bacterial infection has been well observed and practiced throughout history. Bacteria are well‐suited to serve as anticancer agents due to their intrinsic mobility, cell toxicity, immunogenicity, and preferential accumulation within the anoxic tumour environment. Furthermore, advances in biotechnology and molecular techniques have made it easier than ever to engineer bacteria as both therapeutic agents themselves and as therapeutic vectors. Here, we review bacteriolytic therapy and immunotherapy strategies, and examine the development of bacteria as vehicles for cell‐ and tissue‐targeted delivery of genetic cancer therapeutics.