AUTHOR=da Costa José Manuel Correia , Gouveia Maria João , Rinaldi Gabriel , Brindley Paul J. , Santos Júlio , Santos Lúcio Lara 

TITLE=Control Strategies for Carcinogenic-Associated Helminthiases: An Integrated Overview

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.626672

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2021.626672

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Helminths are the most prevalent infectious agents in the developing world, and the chronic infection by some of them is carcinogenic. Therefore, it is utmost importance to understand the parasite-host interactions, the mechanisms underlay carcinogenesis and how they could be counteracted. Unveiling how this occurs may guide novel control strategies that include chemotherapy-based approaches targeting these pathogens and associated pathology caused by their infections. Little is known on how the infection with some helminths is associated with cancer; however, it has been hypothesized that may involve a chemical carcinogenesis process. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on chemical carcinogenesis associated with certain helminthiases, along with the available therapeutic options and potential therapeutic alternatives including chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Ideally, the treatment of helminth infections should not only focus on elimination of parasite but also on the associated pathologies. The success of any chemotherapeutic regimen often depends on the host immune response during infection and nutritional status among other factors. The close association between chemotherapy and cell-mediated immunity suggests that a dual therapeutic approach would be advantageous. In addition, there is a pressing need for complementary drugs that antagonize the carcinogenesis process associated with the helminth infections.