Tobacco to treat cancerCulprit offers cureBy Emma Hughes: Tuesday, 22 July 2008, 11:44 AMClick here to find out more!A RECENT STUDY published by Stanford University in California produced one of the most unexpected cures for a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – the tobacco plant.US scientists have been working to produce, or rather ‘grow’ key components of a cancer vaccine.The plants are used as factories for an antibody chemical specific to the cells which form this variety of the disease. These antibodies are then put into a newly-diagnosed patient to ‘prime’ the body’s defense against the disease. If this is successful the patient's body should be able to recognise and destroy the cancerous cells.Dr Ronald Levy, who’s leading this research, said "It’s pretty cool technology – and it’s really ironic that you would make a treatment for cancer out of tobacco. That appealed to me."It also appeals to cancer patients, and their bank balance, as using plants is far more cost-effective than other options as well as being chemical free.Attempts have been made to grow these antibodies inside animal cells, however this is a risky business as these cells could hold unknown viruses. The tobacco plant is then – ironic as it may – be the most appealing option for treating this disease.So far, the experimental vaccine is only at test stage, but here’s rooting for the tobacco plant in fighting what it caused.
