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Tobacco May Help Cure Cancer

Plant's robust immune system makes it a viable vaccine factory

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2008 5:39 PM CDT

(Newser) – Scientists are trying to use the tobacco plant to produce a cancer vaccine, Newsweek reports. Ironic though it may be, the plant could someday offer fast and cheap production of antibodies personalized for individual’s tumor cells. In the first study of its kind, scientists found that the plant-based vaccine triggered the immune systems of patients with a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma without dangerous side effects. A larger study will now determine how effective the vaccine is at fighting the cancer.

"This is the first time a plant has been used for making a protein to inject into a person," said one of the researchers. "This would be a way to treat cancer without side effects. The idea is to marshal the body's own immune system to fight cancer." The need for individually-tailored cancer vaccines renders animal production too slow and expensive, so, if successful, plant-produced vaccines would offer a better option.

A farm hand helps with the harvest of tobacco plants in a field in this undated file photo. (Getty Images)

A Marlboro cigarette burns as it sits on a pack of cigarettes in this Jan. 31, 2007 file photo in Trenton, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file)

Tobacco farmer Fred Wetherington checks tobacco plants for tobacco bud worm at his family farm in Hahira, Ga., Tuesday, May 13, 2008. (AP Photo)

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Plant's robust immune system makes it a viable vaccine factory

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New Cancer Fighter: Cooked Tomatoes

Heinz-backed research highlights lycopene

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New drug combos delay tumor growth in advanced cases

Chavez Stays in Venezuela for 3rd Round of Chemo

Could be a sign the social leader is improving

'Holy Grail' of Cancer Treatment May Have Arrived

Doctors excited about 'huge' new clinical trial

Waking Up to a Cigarette Raises Cancer Risk

So try to hold off for at least an hour

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Tobacco May Help Cure Cancer

Plant's robust immune system makes it a viable vaccine factory

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

cancer • tobacco • vaccine • cancer research • immune system • tumor

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

New Cancer Fighter: Cooked Tomatoes

Heinz-backed research highlights lycopene

Drug Combos Hailed as Big Breast Cancer Breakthrough

New drug combos delay tumor growth in advanced cases

Chavez Stays in Venezuela for 3rd Round of Chemo

Could be a sign the social leader is improving

'Holy Grail' of Cancer Treatment May Have Arrived

Doctors excited about 'huge' new clinical trial

Waking Up to a Cigarette Raises Cancer Risk

So try to hold off for at least an hour

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?