PATHWAY TO CARCINOGENESIS - THE ROLE OF BACTERIA

A bacterium is involved in the etiology and physiopathology of the malignant cell. It is not any bacterium, but one with specific characteristics suggestive of a plant-type metabolic and respiratory physiology. Utilizing mice growing sarcomatous lesions as an experimental model, we have been able to recover, in 100% of culture procedures, the Staphylococcus aureus coagulase positive micro-organism, provided that a modified media, as described in a later paragraph, is utilized to sustain these microbes while in transfer from in vivo to in in vitro measures. In human cancer tissue studied, the Ascomycete fungus as well as the Staphylococcus could be isolated (1). Bacteria, fungi, or viruses, isolated by the culturing of cancerous tissue or by their recognition through microscopic study, in itself do not constitute satisfactory reasons to conclude that such microbes are the causative factors in cancer etiology. There must be a definite pathway of bacterial activity to justify such a conclusion. Our experimental studies have defined such a pathway. Of extreme importance is the fact that the Staphylococcus, as a separate entity, does not and cannot produce a malignant cell. Our studies indicate that the malignant cell can only occur in a warm-blooded living animal or human, and it is dependent upon three factors. The bacterium as the first factor must possess characteristics of a plant micro-organism. Specifically, they must have a reducing factor capable of creating an oxygen free millieu in an enclosed area, must be able to convert during duress to a unicellular micro-coccus, and must remain viable within a sac or cell despite the absence of their outside cell wall. The Ascomycete and the Staphylococcus possess these qualities. The second factor is the need for a site, in the living animal or human, that consists primarily of the reticulo-endothelial, squamous and endothelial cells. It is these cells that phagocytoze the unicells but do not destroy them, but in fact provides a protection from harmful exterior forces (2). A third factor is involved: There must be an adequate circulating flow of blood by the host animal or human to provide the metabolite to enhance viability and consequently aid in the reformation of the reducing capability of the phagocytozed micrococcus. Absence of any one of the three factors, in vivo, will not allow the formation of a malignant cell. The following experimental studies define the pathway of activity positively to tie together the relative relationship of the Staphylococcus aureus coagulase positive as a definite cofactor in carcinogenesis. © 1990.