AUTHOR=Guan Wang , Zhang Xiaoqin , Wang Xiao , Lu Shun , Yin Jun , Zhang Jinxin 

TITLE=Employing Parasite Against Cancer: A Lesson From the Canine Tapeworm Echinococcus Granulocus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.01137

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2019.01137

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a devastating zoonotic condition caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, remain a significant public health problem worldwide. However, after a negative correlation between solid tumor and CE has been incidentally discovered, accumulating evidences have suggested that this parasite may induce anti-cancer effect through activating host immune response and secreting molecules with anti-cancer potential, which may provide some new understanding for immunotherapy. This article will review the evidences supporting the anti-cancer effect of E. granulosus and its underlying mechanisms, and discuss the possible implications in immunotherapy.