Israeli scientists find stroke drug could help cure cancer

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: Ha'aretz

Israeli scientists have identified a substance that can kill cancerous cells without harming healthy ones, paving the way for more effective cancer treatment.

The findings by researchers at Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, were published in the current issue of the international peer-reviewed journal Breast Cancer Research.

"We actually found the Achilles heel of the cancer cell," said Prof. Malka Cohen-Armon from Tel Aviv University, who headed the research team. "As soon as you can target cancerous cells without killing healthy ones, you can produce medications that would cause a lot less suffering to the patient. We can even give a much more aggressive treatment without worrying about harming healthy tissues."

---snip---

Cohen-Armon said the drug's effectiveness in treating cancer cells was discovered accidentally.


Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1126056.html

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A possible penicillin for cancer?

[silverweb]

1. And a U.S. pharma company could block it.

Already putting restrictions on the study parameters. It just figures, doesn't it?

One of the obstacles to applying the discovery to all forms of cancer is that the medicine is registered as a patent of an American pharmaceutical company. Tel Aviv University's technology transfer company, Ramot, has secured a usage patent enabling it to develop the drug to treat only breast cancer.

The future development of the drug depends on the goodwill of the American company, or on another company developing a similar substance.

[iandhr]

4. How would they have a patent

This is a new study.

[leftynyc]

15. I think the patent is for the

stroke usage. That they found it can also kill cancer cells means the original manufacturer stays involved.

[FarCenter]

19. It looks like the Innotek patent is pretty broad, for inflammatory diseases generally

The compound appears to be PJ-34, available from Sigma-Aldrich.

There are other patents involvinig PARP inhibitors.

[Cirque du So-What]

5. This makes a good argument for suspending patents

as I don't trust the 'goodwill' of any corporation. If it's socialistic to put the needs of millions of cancer patients ahead of the profit motive of a big pharmaceutical company, so be it.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[iandhr]

3. "the drug's effectiveness in treating cancer cells was discovered accidentally. "

It would be nice if there were a few accidents like that

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Was it an accident?

How long has the drug been on the market? What other drugs is the American co. selling to cure cancer?

[LeftishBrit]

6. Really hoping that it turns out to work!

[denem]

7. The results are for MICE.

There have been countless, full 'cures' for cancers in mice. None so far have replicated their promise when it came to human trials.

[rasputin1952]

8. It seems to almost always be "accidental"...

It's nice way of saying, "Holy Shit! Look at this!!!".


It will take time to develop meds and all of that, but the thing is, they found something that could help to save an incredible # of humans...Good for them...:D

[Raschel]

9. Bring on the studies! Every new discovery gives hope to survivors.

With the technology of today, things can change rapidly. Some of us just need to buy some time for that next new treatment.

[denem]

10. MICE! MICE! MICE!

There are 37 known drugs that can cure cancer in mice. For example, interferon or endostatin. None have produced the results hoped for in humans. This is the latest in a long line of 'cures'. Cross your fingers, but don't bet the house. Sorry, but them's the facts.

[poverlay]

16. How is it possible that "they" can come up with 37 drugs to cure cancer in mice, yet not a single

one for cancer in humans. Seems a bit unlikely...

[mike_c]

18. one major reason is the ease with which hundreds of thousands of mice...

...can be maintained in research colonies, bred for expressing specific cancers, etc. People tend to take a dim view of applying that research model-- a very successful model-- to the human population. Just imagine my lab building with a basement full of children in cages, bred for susceptibility to specific cancers, with IV drips testing hundreds of potential anti-tumor drugs. A cure would be just around the corner....

[kimmerspixelated]

20. The cancer industry research centers need constant funding.

The "answer" will leave them out of a job.

Meanwhile there are some very strong South American herbs, such as Graviola, Paw Paw, etc.The list goes on. They can't be patented or profitted by Big Pharma.

[Jefferson23]

11. Fingers crossed here, how fabulous! Thanks for posting.

My dear mother died from breast cancer many years ago, she had reached the 5 year recovery mark, but then the cancer returned. I hope these scientists are on to something big.

[sellitman]

12. Wonder how many countries will "Boycott" this treatment?

Will this be the reply from those counties?

"Boycott the Zionist Cure"

Doubt it.

[LeftishBrit]

14. Never underestimate the extreme CT-ers...

Many of them regard *all* 'conventional' medicine as an evil plot by governments with the aid of Big Pharma to kill half the population and suppress the liberties of the rest! The 'Zionist' angle will be still more red meat for that type; but I think they might boycott it even without such an angle!

Let us hope that the treatment works in humans as well as mice.

[question everything]

17. Study: Israel has among highest cancer survival rates in the West

A related study cited in the link. Israel, of course, has a universal health system..

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1120780.html

Israel has one of the highest survival rates among cancer patients in the West, according to a Health Ministry report released on Tuesday. However, the number of cancer patients in Israel is rapidly growing.

(snip)

Dr. Micha Barhana, director of the Health Ministry's cancer registration unit, says "there is an increase in cancer survival in Israel, which is influenced by programs for early detection and national awareness, as well as a result of modern medicine and technologies used in recent years."

(snip)

The data is based on an observation of patients diagnosed with cancer between the years 1991 to 2002, who are registered in the Health Ministry national reserve. The Ministry tested the relative survival chances of these patients in correlation to their ages.

In a years-long study of survivors diagnosed with cancer from the years 1990 to 1994, and from 1995 to 1998, the data shows an increase in cancer survival.