Posted on 06/16/2010 7:30:23 AM PDT by martin_fierro
AT least six Gold Coast pets have had their lives extended during clinical trials of a cancer drug discovered in a tropical Queensland rainforest.
Nine-year-old staffy Baby is one of the miracle mutts treated with the drug EBC-46, which its developer QBiotics hopes to begin trialling on humans next year.
Baby had an aggressive tumour on her face and would have lost both eyes if the cancer was surgically removed.
But within a week of being injected with the drug, the tumour had almost completely disappeared.
Dr Andrew Blum, of Greencross Vets Palm Beach, who undertook local trials, said it was one of the most exciting developments he had experienced in his 37-year career.
He has treated six dogs with the drug so far and said all had improved remarkably.
"I have seen some remarkable resolution of tumours that otherwise wouldn't have been a success surgery wise," he said.
"Some would have died or had limbs taken off."
Dr Blum said within hours of injecting the drug, a tumour would swell and redden.
"Then it actually liquifies and gets destroyed and disappears, leaving an open wound.
"In a matter of weeks it is all gone. It's just astounding, the results we've had, you just haven't seen anything like it.
"It's the most exciting drug I've seen.
"The success has just been unbelievable."
Baby's Burleigh Heads owner Kathy Lawder said she watched as the tumour near her dog's right eye was attacked by the hour.
After a week, the tumour had shrunk from the size of a ping-pong ball to a small lump.
"She is a different dog, back to her normal self before she got cancer, her coat is shiny and healthy and she has put on weight," she said.
"It truly is an amazing discovery.
"We just hope this drug has the same results on humans -- you can imagine the amount of lives that will be saved or at least prolonged due to this treatment."
The drug, which may have the potential to treat human skin, head, neck, breast and prostate cancers, is made from blushwood seed, found only in rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands.
QBiotics is seeking investors to raise $10 million to begin human trails of the drug.
I mean really, reading all this news is depressing.
That’s a good idea. Start it and ping me.
BOOKbump
I am skeptical since the type and stage of the cancer was not mentioned. Some canine cancers will shrink overnight even injected with saline but will return viciously days or weeks later. Sounds like it is time for my David Hume to come out.
Thanks Doug ... any breakthrough would be very welcome.
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