Bacteria 'may cause cancer'

Few scientists subscribe to the theory

A scientist at the University of Sheffield has identified a bacterium that may cause cancer.

Dr Milton Wainwright believes the strain of bacillus licheniformis could induce the disease in people who possess a genetic predisposition for the disease.

Many experts remain sceptical of the idea that bacteria can cause cancer in humans, despite recent scientific studies linking them to cervical and stomach cancers.

But Dr Wainwright hopes his discovery will encourage more research into what is known as the microbial theory.

We may be able to arrest the disease using antibiotics

Dr Milton Wainwright

The US alone spends £20bn on cancer research each year.

Dr Wainwright told BBC News Online: "Even if 0.1% of that money went on microbial theory studies it would go a long way to making a breakthrough."

"We need to look at this. We simply cannot ignore the possibility of a link."

Non-contagious

"If bacteria do cause cancer then we may be able to arrest the disease using antibiotics."

Only a few scientists around the world are advocates of the theory which has been largely rejected by the cancer research establishment because of the infectious nature of bacteria.

But Dr Wainwright was keen to emphasise that this does not mean the disease is contagious.

"There is no fear that cancer can in any way be caught from patients," he said.