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How bacteria could cause cancer: one step at a time.
Alistair J Lax1, Warren Thomas
1Dept of Oral Microbiology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK. alistair.lax@kcl.ac.uk
Trends in Microbiology
|June 29, 2002
Summary
Chronic bacterial infections, including Helicobacter pylori, can promote cancer development by inducing cellular proliferation and blocking apoptosis. Bacterial toxins also interfere with cellular signaling, potentially driving tumor growth and progression.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori has established a link between bacterial infection and cancer.
- Emerging evidence suggests other chronic bacterial infections, such as Salmonella typhi, also contribute to tumor development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the mechanisms by which bacteria and bacterial toxins contribute to cancer.
- To investigate the role of bacterial infections in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and signaling pathways relevant to tumorigenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on bacterial infections and cancer.
- Analysis of bacterial toxins' effects on cellular signaling pathways.
- Examination of mechanisms like cellular proliferation and apoptosis inhibition.
Main Results:
- Certain bacterial infections (e.g., Bartonella spp., Lawsonia intracellularis, Citrobacter rodentium) induce reversible cellular proliferation.
- Some chronic infections inhibit apoptosis, a key process in cancer development.
- Bacterial toxins like Pasteurella multocida toxin and E. coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor activate signaling pathways (e.g., Rho, COX2) implicated in tumor promotion.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial infections and toxins represent significant factors in cancer causation and progression.
- Bacterial toxins offer valuable models for understanding cancer mechanisms and may play a direct role in oncogenesis.