Can plant research lead to new insights in cancer research?

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 11 Jan 2005 - 7:00 PDT

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Ghent, Belgium - The development of cancer is a complex process with a number of different causes. The root problem is loss of control in the cell division process. A fundamental biological process, cell division can be studied in many organisms. Researchers from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected with Ghent University are studying cell division in plants and thereby uncovering general principles. They are now revealing the importance of the DEL1 protein in the control of cell division in the Arabidopsis plant. The scientists suspect that the human variant of this protein, E2F7, performs the same essential function in human cells. Their research is bringing to light a potentially new class of genes that can suppress the growth of tumors.

Loss of control...

Our body is constructed of cells that contain the hereditary material (DNA) distributed among chromosomes - 46 in human cells. Under normal circumstances, our body's cells divide continuously in a very controlled manner: every cell division is preceded by a doubling of the DNA, so that, after division, two cells are formed, each containing 46 chromosomes. But sometimes this process goes wrong, giving rise to cells with an incorrect number of chromosomes. Such an occurrence can undermine the precise control system governing cell division, so that the cell begins to divide without restraint, turning into a cancer cell.

New insights from an unexpected quarter

In a small plant like Arabidopsis (or the mouse ear cress), processes such as DNA doubling and cell division are also subject to a complex control system. The VIB research group, under the direction of Lieven De Veylder and Dirk Inzé, is studying cell division in Arabidopsis during the plant's development and, in particular, the function of the DEL1 protein in the cell division process. For this study, they modified plants genetically so that they no longer produced DEL1. The researchers saw that the cells of these modified plants contained noticeably more DNA than the cells of normal Arabidopsis plants. By shutting down DEL1, a doubling of the cell's DNA is no longer automatically followed by cell division. Their research demonstrates the importance of DEL1 in the control mechanism of DNA doubling and cell division.

From plants to people?

De Veylder and Inzé suspect that the E2F7 protein - the human counterpart to DEL1 - performs a function in human cells analogous to that of DEL1 in Arabidopsis. According to these scientists, an error in E2F7 could lead to cells containing too many chromosomes, and thus to cancer cells. They want to develop this line of reasoning further with a partner in cancer research in order to better understand the factors that underlie cancer.

Relevant scientific publication
Vlieghe et al., Current Biology 15, 59-63 (2005).

Note to the Editor:

VIB, the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, is a research institute where 800 scientists conduct gene technological research in a number of life-science domains, such as human health care and plant systems biology. Through a joint venture with four Flemish universities (Ghent University, the Catholic University of Leuven, the University of Antwerp, and the Free University of Brussels) and a solid funding program for strategic basic research, VIB unites the forces of nine university science departments in a single institute. Through its technology transfer activities, VIB strives to convert the research results into products for the benefit of consumers and patients. VIB also distributes scientifically substantiated information about all aspects of biotechnology to a broad public.

For more information, please contact VIB's Communication Service or the VIB scientist:
VIB Communication - Tel: 32 9 244 66 11
Lieven De Veylder - Tel: 32 9 331 39 61

Sooike Stoops
sooike.stoops@vib.be
VIB, Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology

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Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)

Cancer Can Be Treated By Use Of Plants

posted by dewangan on 21 Apr 2009 at 11:41 pm

"Can plant research lead to new insights in cancer research?”

The answer is “Yes”. But the next question before every body is who, how, where, and when?

In the history of Ayurveda, many references of cancer treatment are available. But it is not accepted universally or considered proven. That means some gap in understanding, identification, preparations, methodology and use etc. of either disease or plants. There must be some missing as negative aspect of the treatment. True! But what are these aspects?

The legendary of the Ayurveda treatments are Dhanvantari, Charak, Sushruta, etc., who had done all the experiments of using lakhs of plants and treated all kinds of diseases. And subsequently, transferred their knowledge to disciples? All above seems to be astonishing! Can the present science rejects the theory of treatments given by them? If answer is No then, where is the gap or mis-match? Now the time has come for making sincere efforts so as to reduce the gap only then, many new things may come out which were known to legendary but not available to us as reference.

Today, science is equipped with a number of papers, histories, references, lab reports etc. but in piece meal. These papers remain as a research papers for the award of degree’s & PhD’s. Millions of such papers are available for reference? Though, it is not waste but leads to other path than objectivity. Alas! not useful to the diseased.

When we see the life of legendary, they spent their whole life in the forest. Plants, birds and animals, etc., were the family members & friends. They used to live, play, and talk with them. History says that they had power to talk with plants and animals. The plants are used to tell their qualities and power.

In the ancient time, diseases were common in human being. They had to travel from place to place. They had no system for storing medicines. But where ever they reached they treated ailments with the locally available plants. That indicates, for the treatment of diseases, locally available plants were used. This gives a clue that number of plants can be used for the treatment of a particular disease.

Most of the modern scientists do not hesitate in commenting all such cure as bulls**t. On the other side, we do have solution for treatment of diseases. Thus, continuing experiments and research on the same aspects of plants but still away from the objectivity. If little focus is given towards the so called unscientific way of treatment; there are possibilities of opening new directions for scientists and doctors.

The purpose of writing on such a complex matter is just not to express my belief or opinion or favor to prove something right and wrong. It is an attempt to bring master of nature to the lab, to speed up the research. I am witnessing the treatment and cure of cancer, cerebral palsy and other ailments cases. Where patients left the hope of being treated. The person who treats such ailments is a saint. He is PhD. At the age of 30 yrs, he adopted renunciation and spent 25 yrs in the forest and hills. He lives an ascetic life. Among Sannyasin’s he is being called doctor. He identifies plants, plucks them in specific day and time, process and give to the patients. He quotes “any disease which has come in the body after birth is curable”.

When the team of doctors and specialists equipped with all facilities, fails to cure many ailments. But a sannyasin, whose next course of meal is not sure, treats the patients. The treatment is not a miracle. Right from identification of disease in the body, scanning through eyes, observations, its causes, preparation of medicine and fixing doses, all are scientific process. In India not one or two, there are number of such Masters having knowledge of plants and its use for specific disease beyond science.

Beyond science it is hard to believe but true ! As myself is witness of all such treatments.
Many cancers like breast cancer; cancer in rectum, urinal passage, lung cancer can be treated from distance. There is no need to be in touch with doctor.

Numbers of tests are being carried out to diagnosis the disease. These tests scientifically establish the cancerous cells in tissues/growths. Modern therapies in cancer treatment like radiation and chemo, surgery are not fully aware of the cause of the root/origin, simply remove or burn the growth on physical level. Consequently at a later stage, a lot of complications arise such as destruction of good cells, decrease in immune system etc., and leading to demise of patient.

The cure of cancer is possible if we peep into the minor aspects of human body. In this respect one has to understand the energy level/electromagnetic level/aura intensity of the body. This may be able to resolve the complicated properties of any living & non living matter lies on the earth in the atomic level. The amount of dis-balance or shifting of energy from the particular organ and tissues may cause damage to the cells leading to cancer. Another significant cause of cancer is a strong negative energy emanating the energy body of bad souls. There are evidences of cancers caused by impart of such strong –Ve radiations. These cancer patients respond to the treatment by + energy, without medication. Very fast recoveries are seen in such cancer patients.
For being treated patient has to give his / her name & address where he / she is staying during the time of treatment. Specific questions may also be asked.

T C Dewangan
ONGC, Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh)

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