Breakthrough study suggesting a correlation between parasite infection & cancer
June 5, 2025
The cancer disease is a life-threatening condition taking place as a consequence of the proliferation of cells within any specific tissue/ organ uncontrollably. Looking at the parasites, such organisms reside upon the body of hosts, survive, grow, reproduce, and even invade the organ system, making them by causing parasitic infection.
Both the parasitic as well as the cancerous cells are working with similar capacities for their survival and proliferation, independent of all the exogenous factors of growth. Also, they are resistive to apoptosis while invading the immune mechanism of the host body. Owing to the estimated more than 19 million cases of tumors, and cancers along with the 10 million mortalities, at the start of this decade, this fatal disease is one of the significant threats to the health communities globally.
Parasite infections & Cancer: Understanding intricacies
There are several environmental factors playing the role of the causative agents for example pathogens like parasites, unhealthy Lifestyle choices, and others that are contributing to the procedure of carcinogenesis. In fact, parasitic diseases are accounting for more than 15% of the burden on Healthcare settings due to cancer.
Recent advancements taking place in three distinctive fields, molecular biology, and epidemiology along with infectious disorders have resulted in eminent Revelations, leading to the clarification of the relationship between cancer & parasitic infections.
The linkage between parasitic infections and different categories of cancers has brought new avenues in broadening the understanding of the intricacies between immunology, chronic inflammatory processes as well as oncogenesis.
This blog post involves a systemic review for the identification of the current insights considering the role of parasitic infections in carcinogenesis, how they can regulate immune responsiveness, preventing metastasis, angiogenesis, and regulation of the inflammatory responsiveness inducing cancer development.
Parasites & their role in carcinogenesis
- The three helminths like Schistosoma haematobium, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Clonorchis sinensis are found to have a direct association with augmenting carcinogenesis in humans.
- At the same time, the role of other parasitic organisms remains quite unclear at all. The mechanisms involving carcinogenesis induced by these parasites include chronic inflammation, and sustainable proliferation while modulating the immune system of the host.
- Since millions of people globally get infected by these parasites commonly, it raises the concern of the public Healthcare authorities and there is a dire need of further research and investigation in this regard.
How can parasitic infections induce carcinogenesis?
Such infections are capable of initiating the process of carcinogenesis through three of the main mechanisms:
- Chronic inflammation going to the prolonged persistence of the parasites within the host body
- Immunosuppression for example HIV, inserting active oncogene, damage to the genetic structure
- Alteration of the gene expression within the genome of the host, while evasing the immune system.
Antineoplastic mechanism of parasites reviving hope for cancer therapy
- The parasites have been successful in promoting the antineoplastic potency in many distinct type of the experimental cancer models.
- This is actually conducted through immunomodulation, exerting the inhibitory impact of angiogenesis and the theory of molecular mimicry that are the cornerstones.
- It is quite interesting that some of the molecules of parasites are triggering the apoptosis within the cancerous cells, while not impacting the normal cells at all. For example, T. Cruzi surface molecule gp82 demonstrates apoptosis within the melanoma cells while not influencing normal melanocytes.
Cancer categories influenced by parasites & parasitic infection treating medicines like ivermectin, fenbendazole
- Parasites like protozoa for example Toxoplasma gondii as well as Trypanosoma cruzi have been found to demonstrate the anti-cancer activity through the antiangiogenic capability.
- Also, such parasites carry out the reactivation of the responsiveness of the immune system while inducing apoptosis. Taenia crassiceps is capable of regulating tumor-promoting inflammatory responsiveness.
Another parasite Echinococcus granulosus is found to exhibit varied mechanisms of anti-tumor through the deactivation of the immunity responsiveness along with the antiproliferative impact upon the transformed cells.
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Ivermectin & Fenbendazole, antiparasitic-repurposed drugs augmenting anticancer activity
- An alternative to the development of new medication for cancer treatment is the repurposing of existing antiparasitic drugs like ivermectin, Fenebendazole & mebendazole.
- Such drugs are capable of inhibiting several of the pathways, for example, the inhibition of the importin that causes the arresting and apoptosis of the cell cycle.
- In this manner, ivermectin, Fenebendazole, and other drugs are significantly capable of enhancing the anti-tumorous efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agents particularly in the cells that are resistant to the medications.
Conclusion
The growing emerging shreds of evidence provide hope in the prevention and treatment of cancer. There is a need for further investigation and research on the manner in which parasites promote/ hindering oncogenesis within human beings. As this will be assisted in designing parasite control strategies and promoting the utilization of parasitic infection-treating medicines like Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, and Mebendazole for the prevention and treatment of infection-related malignancies.
