This Common Antibiotic May Help Fight Cancer When Given Before Radiation

Administering a dose of the common antibiotic vancomycin before radiation therapy may help immune cells kill tumors, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

In this study, researchers used a mouse-model to uncover that vancomycin enhances the function of dendritic cells, which are the messenger cells that relay to T cells what to attack. The researchers used melanoma, lung, and cervical cancer models for this work,  and noted the approach could have implications for a wide variety of cancer types. Moreover, the study also builds off the team’s previous research, which showed a similar effect in T cell therapies,

However, the researchers caution this study only scratches the surface when it comes to understanding the connection between the makeup of the gut microbiome and its impact on radiotherapy-induced immune responses to cancer. They say further research is needed to elucidate their findings.

Giving common antibiotic before #radiation may help body fight #cancer @pennmedicine @jclinicalinvest https://t.co/JwCbQEgLBC

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Giving common antibiotic before radiation may help body fight cancer – Medical Xpress https://t.co/GIZ6yneQ9y

— Cancer Review (@CancerReview) December 9, 2019

“Our study shows that vancomycin seems to boost the effect of the hypo-fractionated radiation itself on the targeted tumor site while also aiding the abscopal effect, helping the immune system fight tumors away from the treatment site,” said the study’s senior author Andrea Facciabene, PhD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine in a press release.

“However, what’s clear is that antibiotics play a role and can potentially impact treatments and outcomes for cancer patients,” Facciabene said. The researchers are planning a phase 1 study to translate this approach into the clinic.

Giving common antibiotic before radiation may help body fight cancer: Studyhttps://t.co/ygOGonT7zB
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— Maj Dr B P Singh,(S G Medallist*)OP Meghdoot* (@MajDrBPSingh1) December 11, 2019

Giving common antibiotic before radiation may help body fight cancer – Penn study finds vancomycin’s effect on gut microbiome in mice can boost immune response https://t.co/exnv6OWWFU

— Dr Neil Bodie (@neil_bodie) December 11, 2019