Salmonella as a Cancer Fighter

Dateline: 12/16/99

In an interesting twist of events, researchers at the Yale Cancer Center are using Salmonella bacteria to fight cancer. The first phase of human trials has started and the Salmonella is currently being administered to patients.

In the trials, the patients are administered a genetically altered form of Salmonella and initially monitored at a hospital. After administration and subsequent monitoring, the patients are discharged.

Salmonella is commonly known for its role in food poisoning and septic shock. In the study, scientists altered the "wild type" of salmonella. It is genetically modified and stripped of its ability to cause illness.

Once stripped, the bacteria have been successfully used to shrink solid tumors in animals. The modified form also inhibits the growth of the tumors as well.

With its pathogenicity removed, the Salmonella can target cancer cells with little adverse effects. In the test animals, scientists were able to substantially increase the life span of the animals that had melanoma cancer.

Based on the results obtained in the animal trials, the researchers are optimistic about the expected results in humans. The human trials will consist of several phases designed to determine if the altered Salmonella can successfully inhibit and shrink tumors. The patients in the study thus far all have tumors that are in or beneath the skin.

Salmonella enteritidis
Copyright Dennis Kunkel

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For additional information see:

• Scientists Use Salmonella to Fight Cancer
  News release about the human clinical trials from Science Daily.
• Infection by Salmonella
  Animation of Salmonella infecting a host from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute..