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Microbes hobble a widely used chemo drug

In mice, antibiotics helped the cancer treatment regain its power

tumor cells with bacteria

STRONGER TOGETHER  Tumor cells (red) grown with bacteria (green) could stave off a common chemotherapy drug because some bacteria can inactivate the drug.

L. Geller

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Some bacteria may shield tumor cells against a common chemotherapy drug.

Certain types of bacteria make an enzyme that inactivates the drug gemcitabine, researchers report in the Sept.