The use of helminths as anti-cancer agents

Botelho, M.C.; Fernandes, R.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/5881

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Authors

Botelho, M.C.

Fernandes, R.

Abstract(s)

Recently, the hygiene hypothesis has been revisited to accommodate the connection between microorganisms and cancer. In a further pathogen-based observation, parasites and their extracts have been studied as antitumor inducers to substantiate the cancer hygiene hypothesis. Indeed, researchers observed the direct effect of molecules released by Echinococcus granulosus whose activity directly inhibits both cancer cell growth and migration. Recently, we have also found that Fasciola hepatica extracts induced death of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells suggesting that some molecules produced by F. hepatica extracts could potentially be explored as a preventive or even medicinal anti-cancer innovative strategy.