ABSTRACT
Abstract This chapter describes the power of genetically engineered bacteria in cancer therapy. In the applications we will be considering, the bacteria are genetically engineered to carry a specific gene into tumors. This is not what is classically thought of as gene therapy, which is defined as the introduction of a gene, or part of a gene, into the cancer cells (or normal cells). In other words bacteria are not vectors for the introduction of genes into mammalian cells. However, anaerobic bacteria (and other types of bacteria) can and do concentrate in tumors by various means and can carry a gene of interest to produce a protein of choice in tumors. This can be a powerful adjunct to cancer therapy. In this chapter we will consider necrosis-targeted therapy, of which species of the obligate anaerobe Clostridium are the prototypical agent.
