Posted on 11/11/2006 7:20:07 PM PST by cryptical
Embryonic stem cells, the controversial and versatile cells that seem able to do just about anything, have now expanded their repertoire into cancer prevention. A vaccine made from these cells shields mice against developing lung cancer under conditions thought to mimic the effects of smoking.
Safety concerns about injecting stem cells into humans mean that regulatory agencies are unlikely to approve human tests of the vaccine, says lead researcher John Eaton at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
Nevertheless, he thinks the vaccine is worth testing in people at high risk of developing cancer, such as heavy smokers or people with certain genetic mutations.
Other researchers are more cautious. Cancer vaccines, particularly vaccines made from cells, are notoriously more effective in mice than people, says Jeffrey Weber, an immunotherapist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "The idea is interesting, but the execution may be impossible," he says.
But both Weber and Eaton agree that the finding could lead to new ways to prevent or treat cancer.
A lot in common
Eaton's approach was inspired by the similarities between embryos, embryonic stem cells and tumours. "Embryos and tumours both grow as balls, they derive nutrients from the host, and they both express peculiar proteins - some of them in common," he says.
These shared proteins made Eaton think that a vaccine prompting an immune response to embryonic stem cells would also trigger an attack against tumours.
He and his colleagues injected mice with stem cells and gave the mice a booster shot ten days later. The researchers then transplanted lung cancer cells under the animals' skin — a standard animal model for the disease.
The stem-cell injection protected 20 out of 25 mice from developing tumours, whereas tumours grew in all unvaccinated mice.
"We were absolutely shocked," Eaton says.
Even more effective was a mixture of stem cells and cells engineered to make a molecule that stimulates the immune system. None of the mice given this vaccine developed tumours when implanted with cancer cells.
Eight of nine animals given this treatment were also protected from lung cancer induced by chemicals thought to mimic the effects of cigarette smoke.
Eaton is now testing his approach against other types of cancer. The findings were reported on 8 November at a meeting in Prague on 'Molecular targets and cancer therapeutics', sponsored by a consortium of cancer-research organizations from Europe and the United States.
Weird protein
Although the mice seemed to suffer no ill effects from the vaccine, Eaton admits that injecting live stem cells into people raises safety issues — such as whether the vaccine would make the body attack its own stem cells.
Eaton's team is now looking for the molecules on the embryonic stem cells that give the vaccine its tumour-killing power. That could potentially lead to more effective cancer vaccines with specific components.
The researchers have already discovered one such protein — found mainly in embryos, placentas and tumours. As yet, Eaton is unwilling to say much about it, except: "It's weird."
Looking for such molecules holds more promise than injecting stem cells themselves, says Weber.
bravo sierra
"Follow the money..." this cliche applies here perfectly.
Yes, why quit smoking when you can just inject embryo parts and keep on puffing.
I cant seem to keep up with the Stem Cell dispute.
The other day they claimed they make the blind see , but it caused cancer, todaythey are using them to cure smokers cancer. So many claims , so many problems. hard to root out the truth.
If embryonic stem cells ever are found to make a person more conservative it's over.
Helloooooo! Every baby comes with a PLACENTA that is thrown away (sorry, Tom Cruise)! Each placenta must have a lot more stem cells than the 5-celled embryo. Why choose to kill a baby instead of making use of placental cells?
Hmmmm?? Maybe it wasn't the stem cells .. maybe the effects of smoking they used are all a lie ..?? What if you can't get lung cancer from 2nd hand smoke ..?? How will they be able to tell ..??
Let's think through the logic here ~ you use such a vaccine early so that it can also stop some forms of cancer from occuring. Then, later on somebody comes along with another idea to force you to have embryonic stem cells injected into your brain. This will stop that idea cold.
Are you a stem cell expert?
From the article:
"Looking for such molecules holds more promise than injecting stem cells themselves, says Weber."
Well, you persuade me with your logic and reasoning.
It's a moral issue, not a scientific issue. Those who deny that the science has no potential, because of moral issues, loses on both because it isn't moral to deny truth just to get your moral values pushed.
An example. You are morally opposed to nukes in 1942. You tell the world that they just don't work. But the Manhattan project occurs. Now, it's time to use it, does anybody listen to you?
Question the ethics of using it, don't deny the science, unless you have evidence to support you.
Them stem $ell$ can do anything!
No one knows. Embryonic and adult stem cells are worth researching until answers become clearer.
"We were absolutely shocked," Pelosi says.
There is something bogus about this article. That or my understanding of stem cell research is flawed. This gives the impression that "emryonic" stem cells have already been used to cure lots of this, and now will prevent cancer.
Everything I have heard is that embryonic has produced absolutely NOTHING. It is ADULT stem cell research that is achieving results.
So which is it?
[Embryonic stem cells, the controversial and versatile cells that seem able to do just about anything...]
Starting an article with a lie is not a good sign and raises a red flag from the get go. Embryonic stem cells have not cured or relieved one disease as yet despite all the backing by the liberal media and tax grabbing politicians and bueracrats.
Adult stem cells have been a great success and are continuing to provide new remidies with time and experimental medicines, they are the future. Yet the left wing simply wants the abortion mills to kill off our fellow human beings and stem cell research would greatly aid their political and monetary interests of tax paying grants to themselves. Again, embryonic stem cells have not produced any cures as they mutate too fast and can not be controlled, it is simply a scam the pro abortion movement uses to delude despate people. Adult stem cells do work and have produced positive cures, yet all you ever hear about is embryonic stem cells from the media which supports the socialist hopes of the left.
As long as you're not the embryo.
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