Cancer Cured? (Stanford)

Stanford researchers are on track to begin human trials of a potentially potent new weapon against cancer, and would-be participants are flooding in following the Post’s initial report on the discovery.

The progress comes just two months after the groundbreaking study by Dr Irv Weissman, who developed an antibody that breaks down a cancer's defense mechanisms in the body.

A protein called CD47 tells the body not to "eat" the cancer, but the antibody developed by Dr Weissman blocks CD47 and frees up immune cells called macrophages — which can then engulf the deadly cells.


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

The T cells then "learn" to hunt down and attack the cancer, the researchers claim.

“It was completely unexpected that CD8+ T (killer T) cells would be mobilized when macrophages engulfed the cancer cells in the presence of CD47-blocking antibodies,” said MD/PhD student Diane Tseng, who works with Dr. Weissman.

The clinical implications of the process could be profound in the war on cancer.

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

This turns them into a personalized cancer vaccine.

“Because T cells are sensitized to attack a patient’s particular cancer, the administration of CD47-blocking antibodies in a sense could act as a personalized vaccination against that cancer,” Tseng said.

The team of researchers at Stanford plan on starting a small 10-100 person phase I clinical human trial of the cancer therapy in 2014.

Reminds me of will smith's "I am legend"

Although the thought of someone creating a cure that leads to an apocalypse of the like does mildly worry a few people I know.

Obesity needs a cure !

Start by closing down terrible fast-food restaurants like McDonalds.

Then, idk, create some drug that eats fat, or something.

Obesity needs a cure !

Start by closing down terrible fast-food restaurants like McDonalds.

Then, idk, create some drug that eats fat, or something.

But then The US won't be the fattest country in the world anymore!! That's like the only statistic we still lead the world in today.

I do not live in the US so i only know what i read about some time ago.
Apparently healthy food is quite a lot higher in price than let's say a cheeseburger. If that is true then you would have a huge impact when you close them down. Or even force them so sell healthier food for the exact same price.

I remember hearing about this within the last year, and joking at the name of course, but it's exciting to see it gaining speed and ground. HIV, cancer... what's next to be cured? <_<

This is precisely true. Most things actually good for you would cost your average family a good portion of their household income, depending on the size and income of the family of course. But then you have like, 99cent tacos or Dollar Menu foods from McDonald's which is instant, no one has to cook or take time out and it's cheap. Quite frankly, the only way people are going to get over obesity is when they start to realize just how detrimental to their health being overweight is, along with how bad over half of the garbage they're eating is. All those preservatives and additives aren't good for you and neither is anything that tricks your body into thinking it's getting something it's not and vice-versa.

Obesity needs a cure !

Start by closing down terrible fast-food restaurants like McDonalds.

Then, idk, create some drug that eats fat, or something.

We're already not the fattest country in the world. We dropped to #2 recently. Mexico took over.

No people just need to stop being lazy ***. You can overeat and be thin/healthy if you actually exercise or do reasonable amounts of activity. I exercise so that I can enjoy my food and still look and feel good. Obesity getting labeled a disease just gave people, that already had a million excuses, a million and one excuses.

The questions I have is, this about the anti-CD47 antibody that you'd give the patients. That signal given by CD47 must exist for something else too. It's likely not just many cancerous cell's shields from the body's immune system but probably has other interactions that may be important, so by blocking it are we allowing our immune system to attack other things in the body or perhaps blocking certain interactions?

The questions I have is, this about the anti-CD47 antibody that you'd give the patients. That signal given by CD47 must exist for something else too. It's likely not just many cancerous cell's shields from the body's immune system but probably has other interactions that may be important, so by blocking it are we allowing our immune system to attack other things in the body or perhaps blocking certain interactions?

Which will cause the Zombie Apocotaco.

"Apocotaco?"

...sounds like something that could potentially be tasty, if not entirely heart-healthy.