Common Plant Kills Leukemia Stem Cells

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memdink
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Common Plant Kills Leukemia Stem Cells

Scientists at the University of Rochester, N.Y., say a plant known as Feverfew is the source of an agent that kills human leukemia stem cells.

A compound found in the daisy-plant, also known as Bachelor's Button, kills the cells as does no other single therapy, said a team from the university Medical Center's James Wilmot Cancer Center.

The team said they collaborated with University of Kentucky chemists who identified a water-soluble molecule that has the same properties as parthenolide, a main component of the plant. However, they said it will take months before a useable, pharmaceutical compound can be made from the compound.

The National Cancer Institute has accepted the discovery into its rapid access program, which aims to move experimental drugs from the laboratory to human clinical trials as quickly as possible.

This research is a very important step in setting the stage for future development of a new therapy for leukemia, said study co-lead author Craig Jordan.

The study is reported in the online edition of the medical journal Blood.

http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=130529
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I've wondered about stemcells and how the growing of organs wouldn't turn to cancer. Perhaps it would, but they would need some kind of inhibitor, right?

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02-24-2005 04:31 PM

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skalie
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Bachelor's button? It looks like belly button fluff or something?

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02-24-2005 04:38 PM

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euphorbia
caustic milk - hybrid

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bachelor's button are very commonly used by natural healers for various ailments.

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02-24-2005 04:39 PM

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Tefl
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quote:
Originally posted by euphorbia
bachelor's button are very commonly used by natural healers for various ailments.

So are chicken feet, crystals, and pyramid power.

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02-24-2005 04:55 PM

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loser
oxymoran

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And maggots.

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02-24-2005 05:05 PM

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Azrael
The Advocate

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Maggots were found to actually be useful.

But yeah alot of stuff the hippies come out with is bunk.

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02-24-2005 05:11 PM

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ignatz mouse
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santeria! slaughtering animals (and doing fun stuff with the blood) cures all ills.

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02-24-2005 05:14 PM

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skalie
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bunk

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02-24-2005 05:16 PM

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memdink
spasm of violence

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if I had a million dollars well i
I'd spend it all

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02-24-2005 05:17 PM

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loser
oxymoran

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quote:
Originally posted by Azrael
Maggots were found to actually be useful.

.

and tasty.

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02-24-2005 05:38 PM

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wonderaz
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CYNICS, ALL OF YOU!!!!

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02-24-2005 05:54 PM

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lanin
Tennis Ball Retriever

Registered: May 2003
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Hopefully they will make more discoveries like that!

Another one:

5FU (Cancer Chemo Drug) is made primarily from the Madagascar Periwinkle.

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02-24-2005 06:23 PM

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Bluexy
sociopath

Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:
Originally posted by wonderaz
CYNICS, ALL OF YOU!!!!

I read the article in Blood, the news link is typical hyperbole generated by publicity machines at universities. Translation - Jordan's NIH renewal did not fare well in the initial peer review process.

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02-24-2005 07:35 PM

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ignatz mouse
Mistress of Futility

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quote:
Originally posted by Bluexy
. . . Translation - Jordan's NIH renewal did not fare well in the initial peer review process.

translation of this translation: [sorry, we don't speak academese.]

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02-24-2005 07:55 PM

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Bluexy
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quote:
Originally posted by ignatz mouse
translation of this translation: [sorry, we don't speak academese.]

The report in Blood was funded (in part) by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through a competitve grant that must be renewed. It is highly likely that Jordan's grant is approaching renewal and they are looking for a little high-profile grease. This is typically accomplished by going to the PR office and telling them about some new result, which they subsequently spin to media outlets. It is much easier to give a reporter a pre-written snipet than to have them create one independently.
Why do I even mention this, or consider it (other than the fact that it happens daily)? (A) If you had a magic bullet for LSC, or any potential drug with such amazing specificity, you visit technology transfer people. You do not publish it in Blood, you wait for protection and send it to Nature. (B) The active compound is one derivative of a broad class of lactones that exhibit all types of nonspecific biological activity - from breast cancer lines to bone growth. (C) It is only sparingly soluble in water, although some "private communication" is mentioned regarding a more soluble derivative, but no activity reports are given. It is possible these are also active, and disclosures or patents are being filed, but even in that case you do not anounce it to Merck, Pfizer, or any drug company reading your work.
Dollars to doughnuts, this is grant related. IMHO.

Edit - On a personal level, I hope they ultimately find a "magic bullet."

Last edited by Bluexy on 02-24-2005 at 08:34 PM

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02-24-2005 08:25 PM

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Coincidence
Search & stone drone

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Magic bullet drugs are bad for business. Keeping em on a steady pill diet all their prolonged life is the way to go.

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02-24-2005 09:34 PM

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memdink
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For all the complaining and theorizing about such things, is there any evidence, past or present, that drug companies are inhibiting the release of possible magic bullets?

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02-24-2005 09:45 PM

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Azrael
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02-24-2005 11:48 PM

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Coincidence
Search & stone drone

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quote:
Originally posted by memdink
For all the complaining and theorizing about such things, is there any evidence, past or present, that drug companies are inhibiting the release of possible magic bullets?

Besides cannabis, its pretty hard to say, isnt it?
Anyway it may not be because of fraudulent behavior, but because of paradigms in medicine which declares that pills are good per se, and that alternative stuff must be shunned like the devil's work.

But, outside of that theory, there are plenty of examples that doctors in league with pharmaceutical companies are not prioritizing patient health very high, compared to what benefits they can get from working with those companies.

Fairly logical in this market-driven world. Actually I think that before you can bribe doctors effectively, you have to be sure that there no magic bullets around. Uh-oh are we in con land now?

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02-25-2005 12:35 PM

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memdink
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Interesting you mention alternatives. I just did a bunch of reading on psychadelics making a come back in science through organizations like MAPS, right here in Sarasota. Timothy Leary got the blame for ruining the pharm companies outlook on the possibility of psychadelics, because of his advocacy of the drugs as spiritually enlightening. Sasha Shulgin is still around also, although not playing with Ecstacy, but he's still inventing new compounds. It looks like there is some medical interest in reviving psychadelic drugs as a means for breaking alcohol addiction and reducing the effects of cluster headaches as well as working on psychological dissorders like OCD.

con land?

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02-25-2005 01:03 PM

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Coincidence
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quote:
Originally posted by memdink
Interesting you mention alternatives. I just did a bunch of reading on psychadelics making a come back in science

Unbelievably, I wasn't thinking of the psychedelic properties of 'alternatives' - thats in the psychology dpt., but it seems that alternatives are geting a bit of wind.
That would be one of the good aspects of the market society.
And I'm not talking about silly quack cures, but scientifically proven effects.
Buuut a bit early to cheer for this trend, I think, though its moving in the right direction.

quote:
con land?

Conspiracy territory. Which is why I care in the first place.

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02-25-2005 01:23 PM

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memdink
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I didn't think you were mentioning alternatives with psychadelics in mind, but they're fresh on mine so I figured I'd interject.

I like the way Dr. Weil talks about integration of allopathic medicine with alternatives. It seems like the most plausible method of mending the rift and taking care of the patient.

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02-25-2005 01:37 PM

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Coincidence
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I like how it's the more natural stuff that's considered alternative.
Reminds me of how it's the most natural foodstuffs that need a label like 'organic', whereas highly processed and chemical food don't need 'inorganic' labels.

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02-25-2005 01:54 PM

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memdink
spasm of violence

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This is the world in which we live. I thought it was a mostly American thing.

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02-25-2005 05:44 PM

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Coincidence
Search & stone drone

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It is. The concept was forced upon us by you sick fuckers.

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02-25-2005 10:25 PM