Fusobacterium, a genus of bacteria usually associated with the progression of intestinal cancer, has the opposite effect in the case of the most common type of head and neck cancer, destroying tumor cells, according to a study recently published in Cancer Communications, according to Agerpres.
A bacterium could revolutionize the fight against cancer PHOTO Archive
Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer globally and around a thousand people in the UK are diagnosed with the condition each month.
Survival rates vary greatly, depending on the spread of the cancer at the time of diagnosis.
In an international collaboration, a team of researchers led by Miguel Reis Ferreira, consultant in head and neck cancer at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, found that patients with this type of cancer who had levels higher levels of Fusobacterium bacteria – commonly found in the oral cavity – had a better prognosis compared to those with lower levels of these bacteria.
Following these observations, Anjali Chander, a researcher at King’s College London, found a 70%-99% reduction in the number of viable cancer cells in cancer cell cultures (head and neck cancer) after they were infected with Fusobacterium. These bacteria destroy the tumor by releasing toxic molecules, reducing its viability.
This is the first step in optimizing the results provided by head and neck cancer treatments for patients, helping to develop treatments that are less invasive and have fewer side effects.
Fusobacterium could also act as a potential predictive biological indicator for the effectiveness of head and neck cancer treatment.
Research has shown that these bacteria play a more complex role than previously thought in their relationship with cancer – according to the mentioned sources, they practically “melt” tumor cells in the case of head and neck cancer.
However, according to scientists, this finding should be weighed against the known role of these bacteria in aggravating other types of cancer, such as colorectal.
“Our findings are remarkable and very surprising. We had an ‘Evrika!’ the moment we learned about the data found by our international colleagues who validated the discovery”he added.
