Got Milk?? Part 3

Dr. Svanborg and her group have been working for the past 4-5 years and in January, 1999, they finally released results demonstrating how the acid-induced shape change could turn the normal alpha-lac into a killer of cancer cells or other potentially harmful cells. The altered protein was also shown to eliminate pneumococcus bacteria.

The team named the protein HAMLET for Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor cells. They have been able to genetically engineer HAMLET to make quantities of it and will soon be testing it in animals with tumors. The team feels that the substance may not be toxic to animals because it is a naturally occurring protein in breast milk. Therefore, if anything is found of its usefulness in cancer treatment, the toxic cancer drugs with high risk of bad side effects may be things of the past.

If the animal tests go well, human testing will begin. Human testing is done in three stages normally. The first stage is one for safety, then a limited number of people will be used to see if tumor cells are killed. The final test is to use a large group study involving many trials and controls. This type of testing may take years.

If the alpha-lac can kill cancer cells in humans then it won't be long before the pharmaceutical companies will get involved, but they must be almost convinced that the work is worth their attention. Otherwise, the companies will not get involved.

All in all, Dr. Svanborg is happy with the progress that she has made so far. She says, "When we started doing research here, in this little town, in this little country on the edge of the known world, few people were aware of it. Now that this enormous opportunity has come to us, we want the world to know."

What We Need to Know

How might the protein actually cause cell death to tumor cells and bacteria alike?
What is bad about chemotherapy to date?
Why is testing on humans done in three stages? Why can't the process be hurried up if it is known that a substance can kill cancer cells?
How might the caution of drug companies actually delay scientific progress?
Why might drug companies label the alpha-lac an "orphan drug" and cease any interest in it whatsoever?

Assignment

Research what currently is being done with the protein alpha-lac. Have any pharmaceutical companies begun researching with the Swedish group of researchers? Report in a two-page summary any findings that you make about the recent research on breast milk and its link with killing cancer cells.

RESOURCES

Radetsky, Peter. 1999. Got cancer killers? Discover Magazine. June, 1999, pp. 68-75.

http://www.cancer.org

http://rex.nci.nih.gov/ncihome.html