Cancer resistant mouse created
The mouse with the altered gene is resistant to cancer
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Tuesday, 27, Nov 2007 04:42
Scientists have created a cancer-resistant mouse that they believe could help to find ways to fight the disease in humans.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky say the mouse is even resistant to highly-aggressive types of cancer.
The creature was developed following the discovery of a tumour-suppressor gene called 'Par-4' in the prostate.
This gene kills cancer cells but not normal cells, which the researchers say gives it a potentially therapeutic application.
They placed it into the egg of a mouse and this was then planted into a surrogate mother, who produced offspring with the gene.
Each of the mice grew normally, had no defects and lived a few months longer than normal mice, indicating that they have no toxic side effects.
The researchers say that implications for humans could be that through bone marrow transplantation, the Par-4 molecule could potentially be used to fight cancer cells in patients without the toxic side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
"We are thinking of this in a holistic approach that not only would get rid of the tumour, but also not harm the organism as a whole," said researcher Vivek Rangnekar.
"Before this animal study, we published a lot of work indicating that in cell culture, there's no killing of normal cells. This is the proof that it doesn't kill normal cells because the mouse is alive and healthy."
Commenting on the study, Josephine Querido, Cancer Research UK's senior science information officer, said: "Although at an early stage, research like this allows us to understand more about the faulty genes involved in cancer and throws open new avenues to explore for cancer treatment.
"It's important to remember that this work has only been done using genetically engineered mice, and more research is needed before we'll know if it can be translated to humans."