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the cure for cancer

Virgil

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Dec 3, 2003
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I just saw a talk by Breslow about his new anti-cancer drug (SAHA). All I can say is WOW.

the before and after slides were just incredable. The tumors all kinds just dissolve in weeks.

minimal side effects. namomoalr amounts

the mode of action was so staightforward. and the compound is so simple my undergrads could make it. None of those 25 step natural products synthesis...


It was truly remarkable. I was just stunned by the work. and that doesn't happen often. SAHA is now being fast tracked by the FDA.


who needs woo-woo or homeocrap when you have science

Virgil
 
Looks very promising, but beware the publicity hype that tends to get generated by such announcements. There's a ways to go yet...
 
I'm also a little skeptical on this issue.

Cancer is not one disease. It is the result of a whole range of genetic abnormalities and disfunctions. This means the whole cellular replication process - as complicated as any modern factory facility - can break down at any one point.

To use the factory analogy, cancer could be caused by anything from factory workers being sick, to the conveyer belt seizing up, to the boss shouting out wrong orders. All of these are very particular pathologies, and need to be treated as such. Very few drugs to date can manage to control more than a few percent of any given cancer.

I have hopes that one day we can narrow down a cancer drug regiment to a few drugs and limited chemo' treatment. And this new drug might be a powerful weapon in that. But I think, realistically, there will be no single wonder drug that will eliminate all cancers.

Athon
 
However, some of the woos could do well reading that report (I expect they might understand at least half the words). This is how scientific work is done.

Hans
 
Jon_in_london said:
I'd wait for the results of the clinical trials before getting too exicted though.
Click to expand...


I'm not at MD, but the before and after pictures were so impressive the tumors just disappear.


obvisously it requires more research but the impressive item is that the SAHA is a common small molecule

Virgil
 
wjousts said:
SAHA
Click to expand...


When I said a common small molecule ( and his talk focused on some of the discovery of this molecule and it precousers which are even simpler), I meant in comparison to guys next door doing a 20-25 step natural product, setting 4 sterocenters , closing two rings to end up with 2 mgs of a final product.



Virgil
 
Virgil said:



When I said a common small molecule ( and his talk focused on some of the discovery of this molecule and it precousers which are even simpler), I meant in comparison to guys next door doing a 20-25 step natural product, setting 4 sterocenters , closing two rings to end up with 2 mgs of a final product.



Virgil
Click to expand...

I wasn't disputing your statement. I just decided I'd like to know what it looked like and I thought other people might like to as well, so I posted a picture. I agree it looks relatively simple compared to the stuff you usually see coming from synthetic organic groups.
 
I take it the "points" along that zig-zagging line in the middle are supposed to be occupied by Carbon atoms, each of which are bonded to two Hydrogen atoms?
 
tracer said:
I take it the "points" along that zig-zagging line in the middle are supposed to be occupied by Carbon atoms, each of which are bonded to two Hydrogen atoms?
Click to expand...


yes in the line drawing every point or angle is what you said.

carbon to hydrogen bonds are omitted for clarity.



Virgil
 
tracer said:
I take it the "points" along that zig-zagging line in the middle are supposed to be occupied by Carbon atoms, each of which are bonded to two Hydrogen atoms?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I forget that not everybody looks at these all the time. Chemists usually leave out the labels on carbon and usually leave out hydrogens altogether unless they are chemically important. Does this help?
 
Whoops, I missed labeling a carbon. The atom on the right hand ring that attaches to the chain is also a carbon.
 
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