Unmet needs to study gallbladder cancer

Clinical collaborator: Dr. George Barreto (Medanta)

In this commentary, We thank Dr Kai for his interest in our work (Kai K, 2016). We emphasize the importance of this finding (Iyer P, 2016) cannot be understated. The current focus of treatment in typhoid-endemic countries has traditionally been to eliminate typhoidal Salmonella species often underestimating the contribution of the non-typhoidal isolates that show an inherent higher resistance to the standard antibiotics resulting in their ability to lead to chronic carrier state in humans. The finding of non-typhoidal Salmonella species in our study brings to light the fact that in typhoid-, as well as gallbladder cancer-endemic countries, efforts must be directed not only at treating typhoid fever, but also diagnosing and appropriately managing non-typhoidal Salmonella species. Such an approach may help reduce the chronic carrier state of these species in humans, and the resultant chronic inflammatory stimulus driving gallbladder carcinogenesis hypothesized by us. Thus, such a simple, yet effective, strategy may help reduce in the incidence of gallbladder cancer.

Kai K. Organ-specific concept and controversy for premalignant lesions and carcinogenesis of gallbladder cancer. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2016 Feb;5(1):85-7.

Iyer P, Barreto S, Sahoo B, Chandrani P, Ramadwar M, Shrikhande S, et al. Non-typhoidal Salmonella DNA traces in gallbladder cancer. Infect Agent Cancer. 2016.