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=10

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