Scientists have developed an inexpensive and non-toxic immunotherapy against cancer. The treatment uses dead bacteria to...Boost immune systemand shrink tumors. The ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial has shown positive results and could soon be used in cancer patients. The authors treated eight patients in this study. All were late-stage, but in one case in particular they significantly improved the patient's quality of life.
The atypical cancer treatment reduced the amount of fluid around patients' lungs and could shrink one of their cancers. The best part is that the therapeutic approach requires only a few doses, is easy to administer and has few side effects. The method is also extremely cost-effective. Researchers expect it to cost about $20 per dose, while other immunotherapies can cost up to $40,000. Bacteria-based immunotherapy for cancer is simple, if somewhat unconventional. A slow-release solution of dead mycobacteria is injected directly into the tumor. The idea is mainly to bring these immune cells into the cancer area to attack the bacteria, even if they are dead. The side effect of this would be that the immune cells would also attack the tumor itself. Once the immune cells multiply, they can travel throughout the body to attack not only the cancer at the injection site but also at all the metastases.
The study authors report that a second clinical trial is already underway. The researchers also share that getting to this point was a lengthy process. However, this allowed the research and trial to move forward. The family participating in the research knew about this project and wanted to participate in the studies. Unfortunately, the subjects became too sick to participate.This studywas a collaboration between a research group from Australia and scientists from Switzerland who wanted to show how effective bacterial cancer immunotherapy can be.
