According to the American Cancer Society, around 20% of cancers are caused by infectious agents. The bacterial infections have been linked with the advancement of different types of cancer. The bacteria can cause severe inflammation that impacts the immune system. Is Lyme disease associated with an enhanced risk of cancer?
The clinical manifestations of Lyme disease include brain fog, numbness, bull’s eye rashes, joint pain, etc. How is Lyme disease diagnosed? In this blog, we will explore how Lyme disease is related to cancer risk, along with the diagnostic techniques.
How does Lyme disease lead to skin rashes?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium “Borrelia burgdorferi” that is spread to humans through a tick bite (black-legged ticks). Skin rashes occur due to the proliferation of bacteria. The multiplication of bacteria can result in inflammation, leading to a characteristic oval-shaped lesion.
Erythema migrans is a hallmark clinical symptom that affects 70% of patients with Lyme disease. The rashes can increase in size, leading to a bull’s-eye appearance. These skin rashes can be seen on the armpits, thighs, etc.
What methods are used to diagnose Lyme disease?
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA):
ELISA can be used to detect the presence of antibodies against the bacteria in the blood. If this test is negative, further testing is not recommended. If this test is positive, a Western blot test can be conducted to confirm the results. For the test, the doctor will take a blood sample from your vein with the help of a small needle.
A positive blood test indicates the presence of antibodies in the blood. A negative blood test indicates the absence of bacteria in the blood. If you are experiencing the clinical signs for more than 30 days before the test, there will be lesser chances of being affected with Lyme disease.
You have to repeat the test, if you had symptoms for less than 30 days when you gave the blood sample. Antibodies require some time to form in the blood. If the test is performed early, it might reveal a negative result even if you have the infection.
Western blot test:
A Western blot test indicates the presence of IgG or IgM antibodies that reveal a recent infection. This Lyme test Accuracy can be read by a healthcare professional or scanned by an electronic machine. A positive test cannot be related to an active infection. It only indicates that the individual has been affected by Lyme disease in the past or recently. Hence, the positive results last for several years even after the recovery.
False positive results can occur due to the problem of cross reactivity. Other pathogens (viruses) may contain proteins similar to those on Lyme spirochetes. The antibodies that are produced against this microbial protein can attach to the protein markers on Lyme detection tests.
41kD band:
The 41kD band is a flagellin protein, which can cross-react with other bacterial species that makes it non-specific. This protein is the test band, which is found on the Western blot. A large group of healthy individuals tested positive on this test band. Hence, 41kD band cannot be considered a reliable diagnostic indicator of Lyme disease.
In the Western blot test, there are ten bands for IgG and 3 bands for IgM. IgG antibodies are present in the serum for a long time and indicate an older infection. IgM antibodies indicate recent infection and usually disappear after 8 weeks post-exposure.
- For the positive IgM result, 2 out of 3 bands are positive.
- For the positive IgG result, 5 out of 10 bands are positive.
Is Lyme disease associated with cancer risk?
According to the studies, the DNA of the bacteria is present in breast cancer tissues. When an in vitro study was conducted, it was observed that the bacteria invade triple-negative breast cancer cells at greater rates.
The bacteria cause an alteration in the cellular response and favor pathways associated with inflammation and tumor cell progression. When the immunohistochemistry staining was performed on the breast tissue samples, the spirochetes were identified in 20% of the invasive lobular and ductal carcinoma samples. The bacteria can regulate the inflammatory response and lead to breast cancer.
Lyme disease will not directly cause cancer. It can result in systemic inflammation that suppresses the activity of the immune system. DNA mutations can occur when the immune system is compromised, which enhances the risk of cancer. Evidence suggests that Lyme disease is a major risk factor for lymphomas.
Lymphomas are a type of cancer that affects the lymphoid cells. Around 25% of cancers are associated with inflammation and infections. Some individuals with leukemia develop skin rashes due to damage to blood vessels. But it can be distinguished from bull’s-eye rashes that are caused by Lyme disease.
