Human trial for anti-cancer wonder drug to start in 2014

Human trials of a wonder drug that may kill all types of cancers will begin next year, researchers say. 

The development comes after a recent ground-breaking study by Dr Irv Weissman from Stanford University in US, who created an antibody that breaks down a cancer's defence mechanisms in the body. 

Researchers had found in the study that a protein called CD47 tells the body not to "eat" the cancer, but the antibody developed by Weissman blocks CD47 and frees up immune cells called macrophages - which can then engulf the deadly cells, 'New York Post' reported. 

The study shows that miraculous macrophages effectively act as intelligence gatherers for the body, pointing out cancerous cells to cancer-fighting "killer T" cells. 

Researchers claim the T cells then "learn" to hunt down and attack the cancer. 

"It was completely unexpected that CD8+ T (killer T) cells would be mobilised when macrophages engulfed the cancer cells in the presence of CD47-blocking antibodies," said Diane Tseng, who works with Weissman. 

When macrophages present "killer T" cells with a patient's cancer, the T cells become attuned to the unique molecular markers on the cancer. 

Researchers said this turns them into a personalised cancer vaccine. 

"Because T cells are sensitised to attack a patient's particular cancer, the administration of CD47-blocking antibodies in a sense could act as a personalised vaccination against that cancer," Tseng said. 

Stanford researchers plan to start a small 10-100 person phase I clinical human trial of the cancer therapy in 2014.


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