Human trial for anti-cancer wonder drug to start in 2014

NEW YORK: Human trials of a wonder drug that may kill all types of cancers will begin next year, researchers say.

The development comes after a recent groundbreaking study by Dr Irv Weissman from Stanford University in US, who created an antibody that breaks down a cancer's defence mechanisms in the body.

Researchers had found in the study that a protein called CD47 tells the body not to "eat" the cancer, but the antibody developed by Weissman blocks CD47 and frees up immune cells called macrophages -- which can then engulf the deadly cells, ' New York Post' reported.

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

Researchers claim the T cells then "learn" to hunt down and attack the cancer.

"It was completely unexpected that CD8+ T (killer T) cells would be mobilised when macrophages engulfed the cancer cells in the presence of CD47-blocking antibodies," said Diane Tseng, who works with Weissman.

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

Researchers said this turns them into a personalised cancer vaccine.

"Because T cells are sensitised to attack a patient's particular cancer, the administration of CD47-blocking antibodies in a sense could act as a personalised vaccination against that cancer," Tseng said.

Stanford researchers plan to start a small 10-100 person phase I clinical human trial of the cancer therapy in 2014.