Scientists from the Institute for Cancer Research. Huntsman claim that the protein found in the blood of elephants attacks and destroys human cancer cells.
Dr. Joshua Schiffman and a team of researchers have spent the past several years looking for a cure for cancer, and have worked with seemingly unusual material like elephant blood.
"In 55 million years of existence, the elephant's body has developed protein to defeat cancer," explains Schiffman, "nature has found a solution."
According to him, due to the large size of elephants and the number of cells in their body, almost all animals should get cancer, as indicated by statistics, but in reality, elephants are not susceptible to this disease.
"Elephants almost never get cancer," says Schiffman. "We believe their secret lies in a protein store that kills cancer cells."
By synthesis, scientists obtained the P-53 protein in the laboratory, and then placed it in a petri dish along with human cancer cells. Schiffman argues that the result was stunning.
“We have seen cancer cells die very quickly when exposed to elephant protein,” says Schiffman. "It encouraged the lab staff."
At the next stage of the experiment, the Institute for Cancer Research. Huntsmana has teamed up with his Israeli colleagues to produce more protein, which will be tested in mice and eventually dogs.
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Dr. Joshua Schiffman and a team at the University of Utah say the protein found in elephant blood attacks and destroys human cancer cells
Schiffman is confident that if all goes well, human trials will begin in about three years.
“I believe that even one person with cancer, be it a child or an adult, is too much. We work as carefully and quickly as possible in order to start treating people as soon as possible with the help of our discovery,”says the scientist.
The doctor himself experienced a serious illness - at the age of 15 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease (a malignant disease of the lymphoid tissue), and this prompted Schiffman to devote himself to medicine. The doctor admits that he will never forget the moment of destruction of cancer cells by protein P-53.
“It was the most exciting experience in my entire medical career,” he adds.
The research team prepares to move on to the second phase of testing. Schiffman mentioned that the Cancer Research Institute would need to raise about $ 2 million to complete animal trials and move on to treating humans.