 There is growing evidence that
certain types of bacteria may cause some cancers, according to a leading
expert.
-
- Alistair Lax, professor of cellular microbiology at King's
College London, said bacteria may be involved in stomach, renal and bowel
cancers.
-
- He said testing for certain bacteria could enable doctors
to identify those at risk of cancer much earlier.
-
- Professor Lax was speaking ahead of a Society for General
Microbiology meeting in Bath next week.
-
- Strong evidence
-
- He is scheduled to tell scientists that there is now
evidence to suspect bacteria in a range of cancers.
-
- He will highlight recent studies into Helicobacter pylori.
As many as one in three people may carry this bacteria, which can cause
stomach ulcers.
-
- But many scientists now believe it may also play a role
in stomach cancer.
-
- Professor Lax said this and other bacteria may interfere
with cells in the body, causing them to turn cancerous.
-
- Cells in the body are constantly changing. They are growing,
dividing or dying off.
-
- However, poisons produced by bacteria can interfere with
the communication process that regulates this cycle.
-
- Some scientists believe that they can cause cells to
mutate and turn into a cancer cell.
-
- "Some of these bacterial poisons have properties
that may be involved in some cancers," he told BBC News Online.
-
- "It is not every bacteria and it is not every cancer
but in some cancers there is growing evidence to suggest some bacterial
toxins could have a role."
-
- A growing number of scientists are carrying out research
in this area.
-
- Cancer Research UK is funding a large-scale trial to
see if screening for H.pylori can identify those at risk of developing
cancer.
-
- Professor Nicholas Wald at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive
Medicine is hopeful that the trial will be successful.
-
- "H.pylori infection is now accepted as a cause of
stomach cancer," he told BBC News Online.
-
- "What we are trying to do is to see if treating
this infection can reduce the risk of stomach cancer.
-
- "The evidence suggests it is likely to be. Our study
will end in a couple of years."
-
- © BBC MMIV
-
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3563653.stm
-
-
- Comment
- From Alan Cantwell
- 3-26-4
-
- Hi Jeff -
-
- FINALLY, after more than a century......there is tiny
bit of RENEWED interest in bacteria (NOT viruses) as a cause of cancer.
-
- Also -- Check out "cancer microbe" on Google
for info on this subject that the medical/cancer establishment has ignored
for decades and decades.
-
- Regards,
- Alan Cantwell M.D.
- alancantwell@sbcglobal.com
-
- Author of THE CANCER MICROBE
- Available from Book Clearing House
- For orders only 1-800-431-1579
- bookch@aol.com
- http://www.bookch.com
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