Cancer Antibody

[F, Calla & Luca]

Here is a fascinating little article from the San Francisco Chronicle about cancer research. California has invested a lot of money in this sort of research on stem cells and related things.

In a potential breakthrough for cancer research, Stanford immunologists
discovered they can shrink or even get rid of a wide range of human
cancers by treating them with a single antibody.
  The experiments were done on cancerous tumors transplanted into mice, but
the researchers hope to move to human clinical trials within the next
couple of years.
  "We have made what we think is a big advancement ... and we're going to
push as hard as we can and as fast we can," said Dr. Irving Weissman,
pathology professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine and
director of Stanford's Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative
Medicine.
  The researchers focused on blocking a protein, which they refer to as the
"don't eat me" molecule because it sits on tumor cells signaling the
body's immune system not to attack it. By introducing the antibody, the
scientists were able to block the protective signal, otherwise known as
CD47, allowing the immune system to go after the cancer cells. Broad range
of cancers
  Researchers say CD47 is the only target found so far on the surface of all
cancer cells. That means the antibody offers hope as a weapon against a
broad range of cancers - breast, ovarian, colon, bladder, brain, liver and
prostate.
  The research involved taking cells from Stanford cancer patients, planting
them into matching locations in the bodies of mice, and then administering
the antibody. The antibody completely destroyed the tumor in some cases
but also prevented the cancer from spreading.
  "The most common result was the tumor growth was inhibited - not fully
cured - but in a few weeks dramatically decreased," said Stephen
Willingham, postdoctoral researcher and co-lead author of the study.
  The study, published online this week in the journal Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, has drawn praise from other researchers.
  "The data is indeed exciting, and the effects are significant," said Tyler
Jacks, director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was not involved in the
study. Research on mice
  But Jacks noted that the research has been limited to mice, and disease in
humans tends to be much more complex.
  "That's a commonly used preclinical model, but there are other examples
when therapeutic effectiveness in such models has not translated well in
real disease," Jacks said. "We need to see what happens when the
treatments are (used) in patients."
  The Stanford team said the "don't eat me" CD47 signal has long been
identified and is associated, in particular, with the treatment of
leukemia. CD47 is found in healthy cells but tends to be expressed in
higher levels in cancerous cells. Limited side effects
  The researchers were concerned that any treatment would single out normal
cells as well as malignant ones. They discovered, however, that the
antibody selected older, red blood cells, causing mild but temporary
anemia and no other adverse side effects.
  "That was the best moment. We found a way to utilize this antibody to
treat (the cancer) without having major toxicity," said Dr. Jens-Peter
Volkmer, the study's other lead author.
  The Stanford team's continuing research is being funded by a grant from
the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The organization was
created by Proposition 71, passed by voters in 2004 to support stem cell
research. Victoria Colliver is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
[e-mail]------------------------------

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Copyright 2012 SF Chronicle

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for posting this.  I am amazed at the progress being made. I hope this turns out to be as wonderful in humans as predicted.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

As a breast cancer survivor, I always like to read about cancer research and possible breakthroughs! Looks like Stanford may be on to something! I sure hope so...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Me too.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

There are natural cancer-killing cells in the body, so this makes sense! 

Very cool.   I wonder if they could combine it with something to boost the cancer killing cells.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I read this article and then either also in this article or most probably  another, there was an explanation of a limited clinical trial of "vaccination" against cancer.  In this a cancer specific vaccine was developed using cancer cells and  stem cells.  The principle was similar, it basically "gave both recognition and permission" to the body's own immune system to seek and destroy. The only human trial was about forty very late stage prostate cancer patients.  The average length of additional life was four months.  Not earth shattering, but perhaps finally on the right track.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, I believe melanoma and certain other cancers are being treated this way now.