Tumor-homing bacteria
Tumor-homing bacteria
Tumor-homing bacteria (pronunciation: too-mor ho-ming bak-teer-ee-uh) are a type of bacteria that have the ability to specifically target and colonize tumors. This unique characteristic makes them a promising tool in the field of oncology and cancer therapy.
Etymology
The term "tumor-homing bacteria" is derived from the words "tumor", which refers to an abnormal growth of tissue, and "homing", which describes the ability of certain organisms or cells to navigate towards a specific location. The term "bacteria" is derived from the Greek word "bakterion", meaning small rod or staff.
Function
Tumor-homing bacteria are capable of selectively colonizing solid tumors due to the unique microenvironment of the tumor, which is often hypoxic (low in oxygen) and necrotic (containing dead cells). These conditions are unfavorable for most normal cells, but certain bacteria, such as Clostridium and Salmonella, thrive in such environments.
Application in Cancer Therapy
The ability of tumor-homing bacteria to specifically target tumors has been exploited in the development of bacterial therapy for cancer. These bacteria can be genetically modified to deliver therapeutic agents directly to the tumor, thereby minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This approach has shown promise in preclinical and clinical trials, although further research is needed to fully understand and optimize this strategy.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tumor-homing bacteria
- Wikipedia's article - Tumor-homing bacteria
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski