title: Microorganisms as antineoplastic agents in CNS tumors.
abstract: In two patients, malignant tumors unexpectedly regressed following infections. I reviewed the extensive body of literature, both experimental and clinical, concerning the antineoplastic potential of bacteria and viruses. Substantial evidence exists to indicate that microorganisms may, by growing in or near tumors, completely or partially inhibit tumor growth, or alternatively may have no effect at all. In fact, oncolysis may occur only when a specific organism infects a specific tumor.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed