Natural weapons against cancer from bacteria

• Published in: The Handbook of Microbial Bioresources pp. 204 - 210
• Main Author: Smriti Gaur
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Wallingford, UK CABI 2016; CAB International
• Subjects: adverse effects; adverse reactions; animals; anti-cancer properties; anti-neoplastic properties; antibiotics; anticancer properties; antineoplastic agents; antineoplastic properties; aquatic organisms; aquatic species; Bacteria; bacterial products; bacterial proteins; bacteriocins; bacterium; Biotechnology; Botany & plant sciences; cancers; cell lines; chemotherapy; Chordata; cytotoxic agents; drug resistance; drug therapy; eukaryotes; Gram positive bacteria; Hominidae; Homo; human diseases; in vitro; lactic acid bacteria; mammals; man; marine organisms; marine species; metabolites; Microbiology (non-medical); natural products; neoplasms; primates; prokaryotes; vertebrates
• ISBN: 9781780645216; 178064521X
• DOI: 10.1079/9781780645216.0204

Cancer is an enduring disease responsible for numerous deaths worldwide. Currently resistance towards anticancer drugs and the side effects of chemotherapy are a major problem in the treatment of cancer, so there is an increased requirement for new effective antitumour agents that are active against fatal tumours but with fewer side effects. It has been known for more than two decades that there are a large number of natural compounds secreted by bacteria that exhibit anticancer activity. These alternative microbial agents can be exploited as antitumour agents. Antitumour compounds isolated from marine bacteria and the anticancer activity of lactic acid bacteria are particularly promising. This chapter presents an overview of the major compounds produced by bacteria that have potential as therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer.