Chronic bacterial and parasitic infections and cancer: a review

Vassilis Samaras; Petros I. Rafailidis; Eleni G. Mourtzoukou; George Peppas; Matthew E Falagas

doi:10.3855/jidc.819

Chronic bacterial and parasitic infections and cancer: a review

Authors

Vassilis Samaras Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece
Petros I. Rafailidis Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece
Eleni G. Mourtzoukou Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece
George Peppas Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece
Matthew E Falagas Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.819

Keywords:

Salmonella typhi, Chlamydia, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Schistosoma, Tropheryma whippelii, chronic osteomyelitis, hidradenitis suppurativa

Abstract

Background: A relatively underestimated facet of infectious diseases is the association of chronic bacterial and parasitic infections with cancer development. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the evidence regarding the association of such infections with the development of malignancy, excluding the overwhelming evidence of the association of Helicobacter pylori and cancer.

Methodology: We searched Pubmed, Cochrane, and Scopus without time limits for relevant articles.

Results: There is evidence that some bacterial and parasitic infections are associated with cancer development. The level of evidence of this association varies from high to low; in any case, a long time interval is mandatory for the development of cancer. A high level of evidence exists for the association of Salmonella Typhi with gallbladder and hepatobiliary carcinoma; Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis with cholangiocarcinoma; Schistosoma hematobium with bladder cancer; chronic osteomyelitis with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; and hidradenitis suppurativa with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. In contrast, the level of evidence regarding the association of Chlamydia spp. with cancer is low. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with lung cancer, albeit probably not etiopathogenetically.

Conclusions: A considerable number of bacterial infections and parasitic infections are associated with the development of cancer. Further research into recognizing additional associations of bacterial and parasitic infections with cancer is mandatory.

Author Biography

Matthew E Falagas, Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece

Director, Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece
Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
Director, Infectious Diseases Clinic, "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece

Downloads

Published

2010-05-11

How to Cite

Samaras V, Rafailidis PI, Mourtzoukou EG, Peppas G, Falagas ME (2010) Chronic bacterial and parasitic infections and cancer: a review. J Infect Dev Ctries 4:267–281. doi: 10.3855/jidc.819

Download Citation

Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 05: May 2010

Section

Reviews

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).