Old TB Remedy Could Help Identify Cancer Cells

A vaccine created with an old tuberculosis remedy stimulates white blood cells to produce cytokines, which identify cancer cells as foreign to the body.

Scientists from the University of London have discovered a way to assist the body's immune system against cancer using an old tuberculosis remedy.

A vaccine created with the germ Baculillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)--often used to vaccinate against TB--stimulated white blood cells to produce cytokines, which identified cancer cells as foreign to the body.

"Cancerous cells are known to camouflage themselves as healthy cells," explained lead researcher Dr. Wai Liu, who worked with Professor Angus Dalgleish on the study, as quoted by News-Medical. "This means our blood cells responsible for immunity aren't able to recognise the cancerous cells as being a problem and so the disease is able to continue to spread. This