tuberculosis

Using the Baculillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) - the germ commonly used to inoculate against tuberculosis (TB), researchers have found a potential new mechanism to stimulate the body's own ability to fight cancer. The discoveries are published online this week in the British Journal of Cancer.

The investigators, Dr Wai Liu and Professor Angus Dalgleish from St George's, University of London, say this new information suggests a mechanism by which vaccines may increase the anti-cancer activity of therapies which are available at present. Although, they warn that this investigation is in its primary stages and a lot more research is needed before patients will benefit.

Human tumor cells outside of the body were conducted in laboratory-based experiments; they showed that a small amount of BCG can instruct white blood cells to create chemicals called cytokines, raising the chances of tumor cells being detected by the body's immune system.