[lyka_candelario]

There was a similar study which was started last year. The research was conducted by doctors from Johns Hopkins Hospital where they tested patients having Chordoma. It is a rare cancerous tumor that grows fairly slow at any parts of the spine, from the tailbone to the base of the skull. Since it is a solid type of tumor, it contains portions low in oxygen. This happens since tumors grow rapidly, so the supply of blood and oxygen are being out spaced. For most cases, such tumors do not respond to standard radiation and chemotherapies.

Knowing this, patients with chordoma then are the right candidates for their test.

Using bacteria as agents to kill tumor cells have been an idea in circulation for the past century. Since these types of tumors have areas of hypoxia, the kinds of bacteria will then come into the picture. Anaerobic bacteria are microbes that thrive in (and look for) areas that are low in oxygen. These bacteria can target the chordoma and leave normal tissue cells unharmed. Once the bacteria are done destroying the tumor cells, they can then be easily eradicated using common antibiotics.

Such an idea was inspired by Dr. William Coley in 1980s where he noticed patients with cancer who underwent surgeries and later developed some bacterial infection eventually became cured of their tumors completely.

Not just that, by the time 1950s and 1960s came, the anaerobic bacteria, Clostridium butyricum, was also used to fight cancer. The test worked; however, there were difficulties in controlling the bacteria and patients became sick of infection, because Clostridium went on producing toxins to nearby tissues.

During the early 2000, scientists from Johns Hopkins University genetically engineered the bacteria to lack the ability in producing toxic proteins. They tested it on mice and 30% were cured of the cancer. Not only that, the mice’s immune system also soon recognized the cancer cells and destroyed them even before they could grow.

Another study, sponsored by the BioMed Valley Discoveries, Inc, was launched in 2010-2011 where the same type of engineered bacteria was used to patients with solid tumors. Patients enrolled in the study were those that did not respond to standard cancer treatment. The experiment is estimated to be completed by December of 2014.