Researchers find early evidence that TB Jab could help fight cancer

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Scientists have discovered a potential new mechanism to stimulate the body's own ability to fight cancer using Baculillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) the germ used to inoculate against tuberculosis (TB). The findings are published online in the British Journal of Cancer (Wednesday, 10 August 2011).

The researchers, Dr Wai Liu and Professor Angus Dalgleish from St George 's, University of London, say that this new data suggests a mechanism by which vaccines the anti-cancer activity of currently available therapies. They warn, however, that this study is an early stage and that there is a lot more research to be done before the patients will benefit.

Based on laboratory experiments with human tumor cells outside of the body, researchers showed that a small amount of BCG white blood cells to produce chemicals called cytokines may instruct. They are more likely to be detected by the body's own immune system tumor cells.

"Cancer cells are known to camouflage themselves as healthy cells. This means that our blood cells responsible for immunity not able to recognize the cancer cells as being a problem and so the disease can continue to expand, "explains principal investigator Dr. Wai Liu. "This study found that a small amount of BCG comparable with the amount that will be managed in a TB inoculatio can help the immune system to recognize cancer cells as ' foreign '. The immune system could then attack these cells in the same way as they would any other infection. "

The cytokines produced as a result of the BCG jab set off a chain of events that begins with the hijacking of the tumor and forcing it to turn off its camouflage. This makes it visible to the immune system of the body, and so the white blood cells responsible for the destruction of ' foreign ' cells now targets to attack.

The researchers tested the injection of BCG on human cells of lung, breast, colon, pancreas cancer and skin. Their research has shown that the recovery of their visibility of immune cells in three of the types of Lung cancer, breast and colon was increased. Within the limits of the laboratory-based study, were these cancer cells with reduced camouflage then successfully targeted by white blood cells responsible for the killing of cancer cells.

Scientific knowledge on the use of medicinal products to stimulate the body's natural defense against cancer is becoming more prominent. The researchers believe that these findings provide more evidence that in the future, this treatment method can offer further options for patients that can be used in combination with existing cancer drugs treatment.

"Using the body's own immune system is a relatively new way of thinking in the development of cancer treatments, and scientists are still building a knowledge base on it. If successful, this method of treatment can be used in conjunction with existing cancer drugs. It could potentially see patients with less medication, have fewer and less severe side effects and recover faster, "says Dr. Liu.

"This research is at an early stage of research, and so far has analysed the reaction of human blood outside of the body, so that more work is needed before these findings can be used in practice. The next phase will be for the development of a composite suitable for clinical trials, "he concludes.

Sources: St George's University of London, AlphaGalileo Foundation.