Abstract

Author(s): S. Harakeh*, A. L. Bilgrami, M. Moulay, M. M. Mahmoud, Jawahir A. Mokhtar, Hanouf A. Niyazi, Hatoon A. Niyazi, Kawther A. Zaher, M. A. Khormi, Hend Alrasheedi, Soad Al-Jaouni, M. M. Alamri, Hanaa M. Alsaedi, Mayada H. Ezmirly and A. D. Teklemariam
Faculty of Medicine, King Fahd Medical Research Center and Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, 1Deanship of Scientific Research, 2Stem Cell Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, 4King Fahd Medical Research Center, 5Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, 6Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, 7Immunology Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, 8Department of Biology, College of Science, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, 9Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 10Department of Hematology/ Pediatric Oncology, and Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, 11Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia,12Department of MIVP, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Addisu Ababa, Ethiopia

Correspondence Address:
S. Harakeh, Faculty of Medicine, King Fahd Medical Research Center and Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia, E-mail: sharakeh@gmail.com

Cancer has become one of the most devastating diseases which have become major source of morbidity and mortality. So this has put a lot of burden on the society and the general health sector. The causes of cancer can be attributed to heredity, environment, lifestyle/behavior, viruses and other potential carcinogens including bacteria. Several investigations have attempted to establish the relationship between bacterial infections and cancer development, but conclusive evidence remains elusive. Some investigators believe that bacteria can induce the production of potential carcinogens or genotoxins through the process of oxidation of bile acids and carbohydrates, and through the hydrolysis of other mutagenic precursors. Based on this reasoning, it is possible to note that several strains of bacteria can cause human cancers which include Streptococcus bovis, Escherichia coli, Bartonella, Salmonella typhi, Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Borrelia burgdorferi and Clostridia species belonging to Ruminococcaceae. Current and past findings provide substantial evidence, supporting the etiological role of bacterial pathogens in tumor mutagenesis in humans. Although this area of research is still in its early stages and requires further detailed investigation, this review aims to elucidate various types of cancer associated with these carcinogenic bacterial species and their mutagenic mechanisms.

Full-Text | PDF