Potential application of Helicobacter pylori against cancer: carcinogenic pathogen or therapeutic agent?

The repeated exposure of normal cells to carcinogenic agents may lead to mutations in their genetic material, changing them into cancerous cells. In this case, the structure and function of these cells would alter, and they would not behave like a normal cell. Treatment of cancer by bacteria is a promising and new strategy. Recently, scientists demonstrated that bacteria could induce apoptosis in cancerous cells. Cell death was identified by cellular cytotoxicity assays when bacterial structures were utilized, and these observations proved bacterial capability for apoptosis induction. Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori) is known as a pathogenic and carcinogenic bacterium that can cause various problems. Recently, practical therapeutic applications of this bacterium has drawn attention. Here, we analyzed the advantages and merits of bacterial compounds of H. pylori as active remedial agents for cancer treatment. Besides describing H. pylori virulent factors and their role in cancer incidence, we also discuss how their potentials can significantly be strengthened and used for cancer treatment. This review results suggest that some factors of H. pylori can be exploited as therapeutic agents for cancer therapy in future (Tab. 1, Fig. 3, Ref. 77). Keywords: apoptosis induction, bacteriotherapy, cancer treatment, Helicobacter pylori.