AUTHOR=Ranasinghe Shiwanthi L. , McManus Donald P. 

TITLE=Echinococcus granulosus: Cure for Cancer Revisited

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2018.00060

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2018.00060

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>Whereas a number of parasites are well recognized risk factors for a number of different cancers in mammalian hosts, there is limited information on the ability of parasitic organisms to induce anticancer effects. There are conflicting reports that echinococcosis, caused by the canine tapeworm <italic>Echinococcus granulosus</italic>, can decrease or increase cancer risk. This review considers both indirect anticancer effects as the result of adaptive immunity generated against certain echinococcal antigens and the direct effect of molecules released by <italic>E</italic>. <italic>granulosus</italic> whose activity directly inhibits cancer cell migration and growth. In conclusion, <italic>E</italic>. <italic>granulosus</italic> probably secretes molecules that can be developed as anticancer therapeutics in future.</p>