Phage in cancer treatment - Biology of therapeutic phage and screening of tumor targeting peptide

Abstract

Introduction: There is a constant drive to improve disease treatments. Much effort has been directed at identifying less immunogenic anti-cancer agents that produce fewer and less severe side effects. For more than a decade, bacteriophages have been discussed as an effective treatment for cancer with an exact mode of delivery.

Areas covered: We review how bacteriophages are used in cancer treatment, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms, and the tumor attacking peptide screening process. The filamentous bacteriophages are an effective vehicle for delivering displayed peptides toward the tumor target. The peptide must be expressed at the appropriate coat protein, and the peptide must be effective enough to disrupt the complex cancer matrix. The present review also sheds light on the dynamic use of phage in cancer treatment, from detection and diagnostics to treatment.

Expert opinion: Phage has a versatile role as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. By acting as an appropriate recombinant drug, this phage has every potential to replace existing laborious, high capital investing therapies that may at many times result in failure or drastic side effects. One of the most significant challenges would be identifying tumor homing peptides. Although a few have been discovered, the most effective ones are yet to be determined. This therapeutic method plays a significant role in tumor therapy with high accuracy and efficiency, irrespective of the target location.

Keywords: Anti-cancer agents; Bacteriophage; cancer treatment; phage therapy.