Salmonella bacteria could offer new hope to pancreatic cancer patients

[tomm2thumbs]

Source: SCPR

...Cancer cells produce huge amounts of a molecule that effectively camouflages them from the immune system...<snip>

In this study, researchers modified salmonella bacteria to carry a piece of DNA that creates molecules that specifically block the cancer cells from creating that camouflage. They then coupled the bacteria with an enzyme that digests the tumor's protective barrier. The enzyme effectively drops the tumor's shield, allowing the bacteria to get in and destroy the cancer cells' immunosuppressive defenses.

The method was applied to different populations of mice in several different tests. In one test, the mice received transplanted pancreatic tumors. The treatment decreased the size of the tumors in all of the animals, and in two-thirds of cases, it resulted in a complete regression, according to the study.

In another test, researchers treated mice that had spontaneously developed the tumors. These animals, left untreated, would normally die within nine or 10 weeks, but to researchers' "shock and surprise" the treatment completely eliminated the tumors, Diamond said. The mice were then able to survive as many as 25 weeks, which "is really almost miraculous," Diamond said. <snip>



Read more: http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/07/01/52820/salmonella-bacteria-could-offer-new-hope-to-pancre/

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Promising development -- this cancer is, as the article states, 'an ugly death' and 'devastating'.

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, tomm2thumbs.

[tomm2thumbs]

2. shore nuff!

[passiveporcupine]

3. It also seems to be happening a lot

It just seems like a lot of well known people keep dying from pancreatic cancer. I had a neighbor die of it too. I thought it was supposed to be pretty rare, but I see it too often, and I hope this turns out to have real potential.

It sounds too amazing, to use one deadly bacteria to invade and kill cancer cells, while leaving the good cells alone.

I also think nanotech will help a lot in the future with curing or at least inhibiting diseases we have no way to fight now. It just can't come fast enough to save a lot of lives of people we all know now.

[DFW]

4. My dad died of pancreatic cancer

It was ugly and it was devastating.

I'd contribute ANY amount of money to see a reliable cure be found for it.

It won't bring my dad back, but it would be worth it to see others saved from what he went through.

[BrotherIvan]

6. So sorry to hear that

I lost two family members. Three months from diagnosis to death. No treatment. This is such wonderful news. I really hope it works as there has been talk about getting the shield around cancer cells down for a long time.

[Aristus]

5. So did mine.

My dad and I were not on the best of terms, but nobody should have to die like that.

I hope this is a beginning of the end for pancreatic cancer.

[MBS]

7. Interesting and promising, thanks. n/t

[truthisfreedom]

8. As did mine. He had about 2 months from the time it was diagnosed.

He was lucky... he was only in pain for 2 weeks at the end. Man, I never want to see that happen again.

RIP dad.