Tobacco plant effective in treatment of cancer

A new study conducted by researchers at the Thomas Jefferson university hospital suggests that monoclonal antibodies produced by tobacco plants can target and hunt down cancer cells.

A new study conducted by researchers at the Thomas Jefferson university hospital suggests that monoclonal antibodies produced by tobacco plants can target and hunt down cancer cells.

The team led by Hilary Koprowski inserted DNA coding for an antibody against colorectal cancer into tobacco plants and they then churned out antibodies.

They first showed that plant-made monoclonal antibody purified from tobacco leaves could recognize, or bind to, human colorectal cancer cells. Next, they grafted human colorectal cancer cells onto the backs of nude mice - mice stripped of their immune systems, and subsequently injected the animals with the plant-derived antibodies. Then they watched for tumor growth for as many as 40 days.

The researchers found that tumor growth was inhibited in a similar manner to that of mammalian-made monoclonal antibodies. These results indicate that plant biotechnology can be a useful alternative to produce monoclonal antibodies. The antibody produced in tobacco is as good as the antibody produced in animal cells," Koprowski added.