Cancer research bounds ahead
Medical research in Queensland has taken another leap forward with the discovery of an anaerobic bacterium from the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, which may fight against cancer.
The discovery is being tested by The University of Queensland’s Dr Ming Wei (pictured) who says the bacterium could be a life-saving treatment for up to 90 per cent of cancers.
Dr Wei, who received the Dr Jian Zhou Smart State Fellowship for Immunology and Cancer Research, is currently developing a ‘trojan horse’ that can fight lung cancer.
“We are engineering a designer bacterium that will be able to target and penetrate tumour tissue and release special molecules to stop tumour growth,” he said.
Dr Wei said lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and is hard to diagnose in the early stages because it has no noticeable symptoms for early detection.
“Up to 75 per cent of patients are diagnosed too late, and conventional therapies, which are unable to penetrate solid tumour mass and are toxic to both healthy cells and tumour cells, have a low success rate,” he said.
Dr Wei said a similar bacterial strain was used to kill brain tumours in a trial of 46 patients about 60 years ago. That trial found the bacteria was capable of eliminating the primary tumour but was unable to eradicate all tumours in the body.
“My research will build upon this experience with the development of a genetically modified bacterium that will be capable of targeting primary tumour mass as well as secondary tumours,” he said.
“Most people with cancer tumours die from the spread of the tumour, not the primary tumour mass itself.
“We’re developing a bacterium, through genetic manipulation, that acts like a guided missile that’s able to find existing tumours, get right inside them and release anti-tumour agents.”
Dr Wei said the bacteria found in the stomach of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo was similar to that found in humans, but contained more protein-digesting enzymes.
“It’s an anaerobic bacterium, which means it doesn’t need oxygen to multiply. It can multiply much faster than tumour cells, effectively starving the tumour of the ‘food’ it needs to grow.”
The Dr Jian Zhou Smart State Fellowship for Immunology and Cancer Research honours the late Dr Jian Zhou, co-founder of the world’s first cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil.
The $750,000 Fellowship includes $300,000 from the Queensland Government, $300,000 from The University of Queensland and $150,000 from CSL Limited.
Story: Nerida Liedloff
Photos: The University of Queensland
Last reviewed 17 December 2007
