A cat poop parasite has been found to be effective against cancer tumors, according to a study by the Dartmouth University's Geisel School of Medicine.
Researchers said that Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a single-celled parasite, is normally detected in a cat's intestines but can also be found word-wide or in any warm blooded animal. The parasite mostly affects about one-third of the world's population, 60 million of which are Americans. The affected do not experience any symptoms or at the most suffer from flu-like illness. However, weaker immune systems can lead to the development of a serious infection.
Researchers said that the manner in which a healthy immune system reacts to T. gondii is similar to the way it attacks a tumor.
"We know biologically this parasite has figured out how to stimulate the exact immune responses you want to fight cancer," said David J. Bzik, professor of Microbiology and Immunology, in a press release.
Researchers said that when the human body is exposed to T. gondii, it produces natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells that are also known to attack cancer. Since most tumors weaken the body's immune system, researchers believe that the injection of T. gondii could strengthen the immune system.
"The biology of this organism is inherently different from other microbe-based immunotherapeutic strategies that typically just tickle immune cells from the outside," said Barbara Fox, senior research associate of Microbiology and Immunology. "By gaining preferential access to the inside of powerful innate immune cell types, our mutated strain of T. gondii reprograms the natural power of the immune system to clear tumor cells and cancer."
Researchers said that since it's risky to introduce live replicating strains of T. gondii into cancer patients, they have developed "cps," an immunotherapeutic vaccine. The vaccine does not contain a key part of the parasitic genome. As a result, the mutant parasite can enhance the immune response without replication.
Researchers further said that the cps vaccine can be tailored to suit a cancer patient's need, making the way for new personalized cancer treatments.
