Posted on 04/21/2008 8:17:25 AM PDT by null and void
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In mice implanted with human pancreatic cancer tumors, injecting live Streptococcus bacteria, similar to those that cause strep throat, directly into the tumors caused the tumors to shrink and die, German scientists report.
"The utilization of live bacteria," as a danger signal, Dr. Claudia Maletzki told Reuters Health, "obviously has great potential for activating the immune system."
Given the poor prognosis of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, "novel" interventions are "imperative," Maletzki and colleagues at the University of Rostock note.
In culture experiments, the researchers established that streptococcal bacterium known as S. pyogenes could mediate severe injury to pancreatic cancer cells.
The team went on to examine the efficacy of S. pyogenes in a mouse model of aggressive pancreatic cancer known to have an intrinsic insensitivity to existing anti-cancer agents.
They found that a single application of the live bacteria resulted in complete regression or death of the pancreatic tumors.
In addition to direct destructive activity, they observed a helpful tumor-specific immune response, with generation of tumor-specific cells.
"We think that patients suffering from tumors with very bad prognosis could substantially benefit from such alternative treatments stimulating the immune system," Maletzki said.
Patrick Swayze, call your office ...
If this really works, this guy deserves the Nobel Prize....
-amazingly simple. Hope it really works.
Neat! Thanks, Nully!
Like most quack, sensationalist reports, I doubt this one will pan out.
Or more. I wonder what other kinds of tumours the bacteria could kill.....this could be something very big.
I bet he might be willing to be used as a test subject.
I would normally agree with you. But this is being reported by a major news organization, Reuters.
The "quack" stuff is for supermarket tabloids.
Is pancreatic cancer the kind he has?......
it’s got to be a quack who invented the colonoscopy......
Reuters? Were there any pictures with the article?
HAving had one and polyps removed, I am grateful for that "quack".............
I’ll let you know by the end of the week what I “think”.......(sigh)
This type cancer is a death sentence. I hope this is true.
Don’t sweat it. They give you a “happy shot”, you go to sleep and wake up an hour or so later and you don’t know a thing.......
it’s the “senna” tablets that have me worried! LOL
Senna tablets? I had to drink a gallon of cherry flavored propylene glycol the night before to clean out the system. It’s a cousin to anti-freeze, but not poisonous like it (ethylene glycol). It’s thick and sweet and clear......
did that the first time, years ago.......this time it’s a truckload of senna tablets the day before.....what a way to lose a few pounds...
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