BS: Promising Cancer Cure?

Subject: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: bobad
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 02:03 PM

It sounds like science fiction, but researchers have discovered a single drug that they think can shrink, or even completely cure, all human tumors. But how does a drug like that work, and when will it be available?

An article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science explains that a new treatment - based on an antibody that blocks a "do not eat" signal normally displayed on tumor cells - helps persuade the immune system to destroy the cancer cells. To date, it's been shown to shrink or cure human breast, ovary, colon, bladder, brain, liver, and prostate tumors that have been transplanted into mice.

The treatment targets and blocks a protein called CD47, a marker that tells the immune system to not kill healthy blood cells. But cancers use the same protein to avoid being destroyed by the body, too - so by strategically blocking the protein, it's possible to use one antibody to kill all types of cancer tumors.

Over the past few years the technique has been applied to treating lymphomas and leukemias, but this latest research suggests it could be used on all types of cancers. Irving Weissman, one of the researchers, explains to Science:

    "What we've shown is that CD47 isn't just important on leukemias and lymphomas. It's on every single human primary tumor that we tested... We showed that even after the tumor has taken hold, the antibody can either cure the tumor or slow its growth and prevent metastasis."

Even though some normal, healthy cells are attacked as a result of blocking CD47, the researchers found this was short-lived, and negligible compared to the effects on the tumor.

Sadly, it will be some time before such a drug makes it to clinical practice. But with the researchers having just received a $20 million grant to move the findings from mouse studies to human safety tests, you can expect progress to be as quick as possible. [PNAS via Science]

Gizmodo

Abstract here

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 03:17 PM

It's been done before. Maybe with new "cures" coming along, the drug companies will fight over getting their respective curse to market and things will move along. Filter "cancer" or "cure" for the other thread(s).

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: bobad
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 05:04 PM

Despite your dismissivness gnu, this is a unique approach which has not "been done before", at least not on solid tumours. If it proves to be as effective in humans as it is in the mouse model then it will be very promising indeed. It is quite an elegant system in that it utilizes the host's immune system to eliminate the tumour by neutralizing it's defense against this happening. The use of the word "drug" in the article is somewhat of a misnomer in that it is not a drug in the sense of being a chemical formulation but rather it is a normal human protein in the form of an antibody. This should significantly decrease much of the unwelcome side effects of conventional anti-cancer chemotherapy.

Oh, and thank you for you tip on how to find other threads but I am quite familiar with that function.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 05:14 PM

If it is indeed "a normal human protein" I wouldn't be so sure that it will be available anytime soon, at least in the US. The Supreme Court just this week overturned patents on some gene-based research, declaring it "not patentable" because it involved natural processes.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 05:39 PM

Here's a link to the Associated Press report on the US Supreme Court's decision.

"There will never be a cure for cancer because there's too much money in it" -- a disgusted friend of mine who works in cancer research.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 09:51 PM

Sorry, bobad... did not want to be dismissive in ANY way. Just wondered why you started a new thread when there were already threads on the subject. BTW, have you read the other threads? Don't bother to answer... just read them.

Sorry, bud.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 10:03 PM

The other thread was specifically about breast cancer and the "drug" was a virus. Not the same thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Beer
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 10:09 PM

Good find Bob. I know no better man when it comes to research. Well maybe I'm stretching it a wee bit.
Always a friend,
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 10:17 PM

That wasn't the only other thread, Jeri... unless I missed something???

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 10:27 PM

Having lost a wife to cancer, it would be great to finally put this dreaded disease in the history column...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 11:00 PM

Here's one thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 12:19 AM

If we take back our power over our health from the "healthcare system," according to one of my brilliant docs we could greatly reduce and/or eliminate most degenerative diseases including cancer, through what we eat, as simple as that. You can watch all about it in the docu he recommended: Forks Over Knives, also available on Netflix. It is mainstream and the years of research and evidence is compelling, imo and my doc's. He's the one who saved my life last year.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: mayomick
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 09:16 AM

I always read headlines about cures for cancer last paragraph first so as to avoid disappointment .
"Sadly, it will be some time before such a drug makes it to clinical practice."

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: bobad
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 10:25 AM

Mayo, you're better off going to the source cited in the articles which, in this case, is the abstract of the paper published by the team of investigators at Stanford University. The headlines you refer to are designed to grab your attention and the articles are geared to selling newspapers or magazines.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 11:43 AM

Gnu: no, I didn't find yours from 2009 about a vaccine. Searching for the wrong combination of words, I guess. I still think the two treatments are different enough.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: mayomick
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 12:01 PM

I think you're right there Bobad. There's a UK paper called the Daily Express ,which is aimed at an older readership and specializes in making up headlines like that .

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 02:13 PM

Having accompanied my dear late friend to her chemo sessions and watched her slowly fading away, not to mention my dear mother (which was even more harrowing and tragic) I, like millions of others, would rejoice to the heavens to think a cure has been found. However we have to keep things in proportion. Whereas advances should be and are reported, they are not yet established as cures, and hopes are being raised prematurely. Let's just keep praying!

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: gnu
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 02:25 PM

Seems so, Jeri. In that case of the discovery in Halifax, it is sad that a big drug company will reap profits from government funded research and, I expect, only the rich will be able to afford it. Not ALL drugs are free here. It's a "policy decision"... at best.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 02:32 PM

Even if The Cure proved very expensive, it would be worth the while of the NHS (in UK) to fund it, as it would save millions of pounds in hospitalisation of sufferers, and in the various treatments, palliative care etc. To me, it's the saving of lives that counts, but in Government Spending terms, they would be very glad to make it available to all, IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: gnu
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 02:34 PM

I should clarify that last post. If you are in a hospital and you are given drugs, they are free. If you are not in a hospital, they are not free. Under any form of health insurance, the insurer pays a max of 80%. When my bro's prescription was filled after he was sent home from the hospital, it was $5000 total for 30 days. He lasted 4 months.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 06:43 PM

My wife has had cancer twice, the latest being breast cancer a year ago. If there was ANYTHING that would "cure" cancer, proven to cure it, both of us would be in the streets demanding that it be made available to all at a price people could afford.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: gnu
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 07:02 PM

Well, Rap, I would be there with you, but that ain't gonna make any difference. Matter of fact, I doubt any of these cures will make it to market because the drug industry makes too much money keeping things they way they are.

The "Halifax" drug was said to be a one-time injection that eradicated ALL cancers in the receiver. Haven't heard shit about it since a big drug company was brought in to "develope and test" it. D'ya think there mighta been a few humans who would have volunteered for trials by now? Some of my relatives and freinds woulda signed on, fer sure. They are gone. That may sound "conspiracy theory" but I believe it is about money, especially in the Halifax discovery.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 07:09 PM

I may be being a pain in the backside, but I would encourage you, again, to watch the documentary I mentioned above. According to their scientific, mainstream studies, WE have the power to change our lives to virtually wipe out cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It is never too late and there are NO drugs involved.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 07:41 PM

Thanks, bobad, for citing a reliable source abstract (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). The 44 contributing authors show the cooperation of researchers from many different institutions (some are commercial, it should be noted.
Tests will take several years, but the use of the immune system is most promising.

Attached to the abstract is a conflict of interest statement; some institutions have applied to patent aspects of the approach. If allowed, that could add to cost of the treatments once they have been tested and applied.

"Drug Institutions" are not interested in keeping things the way they are. New drugs are being developed constantly by these companies, they have many new ones that may or may not have value, and they are offered to researchers who might wish to test them in their programs.
Their propriatary approach to add profit from new methods may seem deplorable, but it is a part of the economic system that we have evolved.


But this is not simply a new drug, it goes far beyond that.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 09:36 PM

Kat, we have the power to do many, many things. People have to take up their own cause, however, and I don't see that happening anytime soon. We've spent too much time letting others do for us and we've become lazy as a consequence.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 01:05 AM

That's true, Rap, thanks for responding. But, the only "cause" folks have to take up is taking charge of what they eat. If one truly wants a change, one which could prevent such terrible dis-eases, it seems one would do just about anything, including changing to a whole foods, plant-based diet. And, as it shows in the docu, that's not just about a bunch of long-haired hippie freaks, or "sissies," spouting veganism; it is mainstream docs, researcher scientists and case studies of even seeming "macho" men who have changed their lives by doing so. I'll get off my soapbox now, but I do wish anyone who really wants to do their best to stay very healthy would watch it and take heed.

Subject: RE: BS: Promising Cancer Cure?
From: Musket
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 05:38 AM

On the assumption that it does what it says on the tin, (a very tentative assumption) Eliza is right in saying that in The UK, it would be seized upon as The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) which advises The NHS on suitability of treatments would balance early intervention through medication over the huge cost of surgical and sometimes palliative treatment.

I also note that many other countries and international insurance companies use NICE as a yardstick too. In The USA, Kaiser Permanate and Evercare cite NICE in their clinical versus cost decisions for some procedures.