Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour Microenvironment

Solid tumour accounts for 90% of all cancers. The current treatment approach for most solid tumours is surgery, however it is limited to early stage tumours. Other treatment options such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are non-selective, thus causing damage to both healthy and cancerous tissue. Pas...

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Main Authors: Brittany Umer, David Good, Jozef Anné, Wei Duan, Ming Q. Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Toxicology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/862764
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author Brittany Umer
David Good
Jozef Anné
Wei Duan
Ming Q. Wei
author_facet Brittany Umer
David Good
Jozef Anné
Wei Duan
Ming Q. Wei
author_sort Brittany Umer
collection DOAJ
description Solid tumour accounts for 90% of all cancers. The current treatment approach for most solid tumours is surgery, however it is limited to early stage tumours. Other treatment options such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are non-selective, thus causing damage to both healthy and cancerous tissue. Past research has focused on understanding tumour cells themselves, and conventional wisdom has aimed at targeting these cells directly. Recent research has shifted towards understanding the tumour microenvironment and it’s differences from that of healthy cells/tissues in the body and then to exploit these differences for treatmeat of the tumour. One such approach is utilizing anaerobic bacteria. Several strains of bacteria have been shown to selectively colonize in solid tumours, making them valuable tools for selective tumour targeting and destruction. Amongst them, the anaerobic Clostridium has shown great potential in penetration and colonization of the hypoxic and necrotic areas of the tumour microenvironment, causing significant oncolysis as well as enabling the delivery of therapeutics directly to the tumour in situ. Various strategies utilizing Clostridium are currently being investigated, and represent a novel area of emerging cancer therapy. This review provides an update review of tumour microenvironment as well as summary of the progresses and current status of Clostridial spore-based cancer therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-e3afd80da86c47d18fc7f7d74393f8bb2025-08-20T03:26:31ZengWileyJournal of Toxicology1687-81911687-82052012-01-01201210.1155/2012/862764862764Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour MicroenvironmentBrittany Umer0David Good1Jozef Anné2Wei Duan3Ming Q. Wei4School of Medical Science and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD 4222, AustraliaSchool of Physiotherapy, Australian Catholic University, McAuley Campus, Banyo, QLD 4014, AustraliaRega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3217, AustraliaSchool of Medical Science and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD 4222, AustraliaSolid tumour accounts for 90% of all cancers. The current treatment approach for most solid tumours is surgery, however it is limited to early stage tumours. Other treatment options such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are non-selective, thus causing damage to both healthy and cancerous tissue. Past research has focused on understanding tumour cells themselves, and conventional wisdom has aimed at targeting these cells directly. Recent research has shifted towards understanding the tumour microenvironment and it’s differences from that of healthy cells/tissues in the body and then to exploit these differences for treatmeat of the tumour. One such approach is utilizing anaerobic bacteria. Several strains of bacteria have been shown to selectively colonize in solid tumours, making them valuable tools for selective tumour targeting and destruction. Amongst them, the anaerobic Clostridium has shown great potential in penetration and colonization of the hypoxic and necrotic areas of the tumour microenvironment, causing significant oncolysis as well as enabling the delivery of therapeutics directly to the tumour in situ. Various strategies utilizing Clostridium are currently being investigated, and represent a novel area of emerging cancer therapy. This review provides an update review of tumour microenvironment as well as summary of the progresses and current status of Clostridial spore-based cancer therapies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/862764
spellingShingle Brittany Umer
David Good
Jozef Anné
Wei Duan
Ming Q. Wei
Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour Microenvironment
Journal of Toxicology
title Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour Microenvironment
title_full Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour Microenvironment
title_fullStr Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour Microenvironment
title_full_unstemmed Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour Microenvironment
title_short Clostridial Spores for Cancer Therapy: Targeting Solid Tumour Microenvironment
title_sort clostridial spores for cancer therapy targeting solid tumour microenvironment
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/862764
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