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Loading...Drug From Evergreen Tree Could Cure Breast Cancer
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have discovered that a drug derived from the evergreen tree could save the lives of some patients with the deadliest form of breast cancer.
The new drug is named trastuzumab-DM1, and is a synthetic derivative of maytansine, a molecule found in an evergreen tree in the genera Maytenus, which grows on several continents.
The drug works by targeting the microtubules of cancer cells, the dynamic, rapidly growing and shortening protein filaments that help cells to divide and multiply (UCSB).
In previous research, the drug was thought to be too dangerous for human use because it was equally toxic to non-cancerous cells. However, scientists found that by combining the substabce with an antibody caused the drug to target only cancer cells, greatly reducing its toxicity.
Early clinical trials show that the drug shrank the tumors of one-third of the patients in the breast cancer study –– a strong result, according to the authors.
“Although the drug is not yet approved by the FDA, current clinical trials are open to new patients,” said Mary Ann Jordan, a professor in UCSB’s Department of Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology. “And, the drug is being tested, with good results, on other cancers, such as multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphoma.”
About the image above: Fluorescence microscopy image of abnormal mitotic spindles in four breast cancer cells that were treated with antibody-linked maytansine. The chromosomes (blue) are not able to arrange in normal symmetrical functional spindles because the dynamics of the microtubules (green) are inhibited by the drug. The drug-treated cells cannot divide and ultimately die.
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Read more: breast cancer, cancer, evergreen tree, health policy, new drug
Image Credit: UC Santa Barbara
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105 comments
+ add your ownIf it works, very few will have access to it.
thnx for this
Crossing fingers that it could save Lives! Lead kindly light, lead us in the right direction.
Great news to hear!
Very interesting. I hope this can be implemented soon!
If one way is better than another way, you can be sure THAT way is Nature's way.
Thank you.
Nature has much o give us. If we will have enough "nature" left.
The real cancer is greed. Cancer has become an endless flow of money for the AMA.
Oil and cancer [to pick just one disease] fuel the same greed.
Its great to hear this kind of news to cure cancer but unfortunately mankind will not see the benefical results for decades to come. Like all the cures before this one, it will be buried in paperwork on some greedy bastards desk.By that time how many more people will die from cancer.
Just look at T-Cells and the shark experiments that both worked successfully to stop the cancer virus. Where are they now...locked away in someones file cabinet.
Trees are wonderful! I really hope our direction is to continue finding cures from nature, its so abundant!
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