SKorean scientists say cancer-killing virus developed

Father Demon · October 19, 2006, 03:40:17 PM

Seems worthy of a new topic...

MMH -- what say you?

Quote
South Korean scientists have said they have developed a new genetically altered strain of virus which is highly efficient in targeting and killing cancer cells.
The new therapy developed by the team from Yonsei University uses a genetically-engineered form of the adenovirus, which normally causes colds.

The adenovirus was implanted with a human gene that is related to the production of relaxin, a hormone associated with pregnancy.
When injected into cancerous tumors, the virus quickly multiplies in the cancer cells and kills them, the team said.
The new adenovirus can target only cancer cells and does not harm normal cells, the team said.
Existing viral treatments fail to kill off all the cancerous cells.
"I believe we have found a way to overcome one of the great obstacles to finding a genetically altered viral cure for cancer," Yun Chae-Ok, one of the researchers, told AFP on Thursday.
Following three rounds of injections, more than 90 percent of cancer cells in the brains, liver, lungs and womb of mice disappeared within 60 days, the team said.
Clinical tests will be carried out early next year and last 18 months, Yun said. The research results were published in the October 18 edition of the prestigious bimonthly Journal of the National Cancer Institute in the United States.

Link

If this is true, it is most definitely the biggest news of my lifetime.

Sgt PSN · October 19, 2006, 03:50:12 PM

Quote from: Father Demon on October 19, 2006, 03:40:17 PM
If this is true, it is most definitely the biggest news of my lifetime.

Really? It's bigger than fire?

Diomedes · October 19, 2006, 03:51:19 PM

How dare you say anything is more important than 9/11. Traitor.

rjs246 · October 19, 2006, 04:02:24 PM

It seems that the entire goal of the western world has become to prolong life infinitely. People are supposed to die. People rarely used to get cancer because they only lived for 40-50 years. As the life expectancy rises, so do the number of deadly diseases that we encounter. Nature is fighting back.

Father Demon · October 19, 2006, 04:05:02 PM

Well, that and Big Macs, Twinkies, Diet Cokes, and cigarettes....

Sgt PSN · October 19, 2006, 04:05:35 PM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 19, 2006, 04:02:24 PM
Nature is fighting back.

SunMo · October 19, 2006, 04:06:04 PM

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Zanshin · October 19, 2006, 05:24:02 PM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 19, 2006, 04:02:24 PM
It seems that the entire goal of the western world has become to prolong life infinitely. People are supposed to die. People rarely used to get cancer because they only lived for 40-50 years. As the life expectancy rises, so do the number of deadly diseases that we encounter. Nature is fighting back.

You know, I never really understood that either. I'm not a deathmonger, but...man, the world is getting pretty crowded as it is. What's the point in keeping everyone around indefinitely? That said, if I get cancer...I'm stoked about this news.

mussa · October 19, 2006, 05:53:20 PM

ahh when like 12 yr old kids get cancer thats pretty bad. they deserve to live alittle longer. what if your wife got cancer?

General_Failure · October 19, 2006, 06:09:03 PM

Quote from: Zanshin on October 19, 2006, 05:24:02 PM
Quote from: rjs246 on October 19, 2006, 04:02:24 PM
It seems that the entire goal of the western world has become to prolong life infinitely. People are supposed to die. People rarely used to get cancer because they only lived for 40-50 years. As the life expectancy rises, so do the number of deadly diseases that we encounter. Nature is fighting back.

You know, I never really understood that either. I'm not a deathmonger, but...man, the world is getting pretty crowded as it is. What's the point in keeping everyone around indefinitely? That said, if I get cancer...I'm stoked about this news.

We've got to go somewhere else. To the moon, Alice!

rjs246 · October 19, 2006, 06:10:26 PM

Way to take the most extreme cases and use them as an overarching reason to root for something.

What if your mom/daughter/sister had sexual fantasies about being violently raped by a sledgehammer and was perfectly fine with that happening? We should then legalize, and root for, sledgehammer rape.

General_Failure · October 19, 2006, 06:11:59 PM

Sledgehammers can't rape. They're incapable of independant movement and probably thought.

rjs246 · October 19, 2006, 06:12:36 PM

Well maybe things would change if we legalized it.

General_Failure · October 19, 2006, 06:14:20 PM

Transfer the conciousness of terminal cancer patients into sledgehammers. Then we'll see.

Seabiscuit36 · October 19, 2006, 06:58:25 PM

Its great news. For those who have family members with cancer and those with cancer its hope. For me, my grandmother has breastcancer, aunt just had it last year, my pops has skin cancer, my other grandmother died of lung/brain cancer, other aunt cancer, I know its just a matter of time.

Most of the rapid reproducing is occuring in Asia(where its dirt poor) and this type of treatment wont be available to the masses given their status. I dont think its going to affect the overall population too much, hopefully this is the greatest scientific discovery in the 21st century