The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has been found to worsen the condition of patients with Sezáry syndrome, a lymphoma type of cancer. A Danish research team has identified the underlying mechanism and believes that this improved understanding could lead to a more effective treatment for this specific cancer. Sezáry syndrome is a rare condition that affects three people per million citizens in Western populations. However, many patients find themselves caught in a vicious cycle as both the cancer itself and the anti-cancer treatment weaken the immune system, providing an ideal environment for bacteria like S. aureus to thrive. These bacteria settle in skin lesions associated with the disease and produce toxins that make it difficult to treat the cancer effectively.
Professor Niels Ødum, the head of the research team from the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Immunology and Microbiology, emphasizes the importance of addressing both the bacteria and the cancer itself for an efficient treatment. He states, Consequently, an efficient treatment must address both the bacteria and the cancer itself.
The research team discovered that by eliminating S. aureus and its toxins, cancer cells could become more susceptible to anti-cancer drugs. Such a finding raises hope for dampening the activity of cancer by targeting S. aureus and minimizing its colonization in the skin. Chella Krishna Vadivel, a member of the research team, highlights this potential, saying, If the effect can be shown to be equally good in patients, the perspective is that cancer activity can be dampened by taking out S. aureus and mitigate renewed colonization in the skin.
In addition to investigating the mechanism behind the bacteria’s impact on Sezáry syndrome, the researchers are exploring ways to enhance future treatments. They propose combating S. aureus using endolysins, a type of enzyme originating from bacteriophages, which are viruses capable of killing specific bacteria. This approach allows for the targeted elimination of S. aureus while preserving beneficial bacteria in the patient.
Terkild B. Buus, another member of the research team, explains, Endolysins will be a non-antibiotic alternative, and it seems likely that it could be administered at an early stage, thus mitigating serious infections. This method offers a specific and mild approach compared to existing antibiotic treatments, which can have harsh side effects, contribute to recurring infections, and increase the risk of antibiotic resistance.
The potential benefits of targeting S. aureus in Sezáry syndrome extend beyond patients with this specific cancer type. Niels Ødum suggests that this discovery could represent a broader understanding of how bacterial toxins can trigger resistance in cancer cells, potentially impacting other forms of cancer as well. Although further research is needed to confirm these findings in humans, it marks the beginning of an intriguing new avenue of exploration.
By unraveling the underlying mechanism and proposing an alternative treatment approach through endolysins, this Danish research team offers hope for patients with Sezáry syndrome. If successful, this breakthrough could alleviate the challenges posed by S. aureus and enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapy. The discovery also holds the potential for wider implications in understanding the role of bacteria in other types of cancer, paving the way for future advancements in treatment.
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