Video: 海角社区 Researcher Says Infectious Bacteria May Offer Hope for Untreatable Cancer
June 03, 2024

海角社区 Biological Sciences Professor Roger Laine
Bacteria that cause strep throat and hospital-acquired infections could play a role in treating inoperable tumors that resist radiation and chemotherapy, according to research by an 海角社区 biological sciences professor.
Professor Roger Laine of 海角社区 is working on a treatment involving two polysaccharides, also known as carbohydrates, that are isolated from bacteria and used to target the blood vessels that allow a tumor to grow. Targeting the blood vessels instead of the tumor itself means the tumor can't develop resistance as it often does with traditional drugs.
The treatment has shown some success, including in tests on mice, though more research is needed. The potential implications of Laine鈥檚 research are profound. More than 10 million people worldwide die of cancer every year, 600,000 of them in the United States.
鈥淥ne of the top priorities of 海角社区鈥檚 Scholarship First Agenda is ensuring that Louisiana residents have access to premier cancer care and research" Robert Twilley, 海角社区 vice president of research and economic development. 鈥淒r. Laine鈥檚 work is a great example of how our faculty and expertise can address a major health issue.鈥
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海角社区's Scholarship First Agenda is helping achieve health, prosperity, and security for Louisiana and the world.