The Unexpected Alliance of Bacteria and Viruses that Could Rewrite the Battle Against Cancer
For decades, science has sought ways to target cancer treatments without harming the rest of the body. A recent discovery reveals a surprising alliance between bacteria and viruses, traditionally seen as enemies, working together to attack tumors with surgical precision. The breakthrough, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, developed at Columbia University, could revolutionize cancer therapies.
### Unlikely Allies Join Forces
The combination of modified bacteria and oncolytic viruses in the CAPPSID system allows for precise tumor targeting and destruction of cancer cells without harming healthy tissues.
### How CAPPSID Works
The CAPPSID system uses bacteria to transport cancer-killing viruses into tumors, where the viruses are activated by tumor-specific enzymes, resulting in effective tumor cell destruction.
### Results and Future Applications
Animal trials have shown promising results with minimal side effects, leading to a patent application in the US. The next steps involve further testing in more complex organisms and different types of cancers to broaden therapeutic possibilities. If successful, this collaboration between bacteria and viruses could revolutionize oncology with more precise and less toxic treatments.
